Auditor report finds low long-term vacancy rate in NC community colleges
RALEIGH — North Carolina’s community colleges have relatively few long-term job vacancies compared with the size of their workforce, according to a new report from the Office of the State Auditor.
The auditor’s Division of Accountability, Value, and Efficiency, known as DAVE, reported Thursday that the North Carolina Community College System has more than 31,000 employees and 136 long-term vacancies. The office defines a long-term vacancy as a position that has remained vacant for six months or longer.
State Auditor Dave Boliek said the findings show the community college system has managed staffing more effectively than agencies with higher vacancy rates.
“North Carolina’s community college system is a strong example of effective and efficient workforce governance,” Boliek said in the release. “The colleges utilize management flexibility and are considerate of staffing needs.”
The report found that 82 of the 136 long-term vacancies, or 60.3%, had either been filled, were in the final stages of hiring or were actively being recruited as of Dec. 31, 2025. The vacant positions had generated $11.3 million in lapsed salaries since becoming vacant. If left vacant for a full year, the positions would generate $10.4 million in lapsed salaries, according to the auditor’s office.
The findings matter because state lawmakers and budget writers have increasingly focused on vacancies and lapsed salaries as they look for savings, efficiency measures and ways to evaluate agency staffing needs.
In this case, however, DAVE did not recommend eliminating the positions for base budget accuracy. The auditor’s office said the community college system’s complex funding model makes those vacancies different from some other state agency positions reviewed in earlier vacancy work.
The report is instead intended to increase transparency in the community college system, according to the auditor’s office.
The distinction is important for budget debates. A high vacancy rate can raise questions about whether agencies are holding more funded positions than they need or using lapsed salary dollars for other expenses. A low vacancy rate can point in the opposite direction, showing that funded positions are largely being used or actively recruited.
Boliek said the community college vacancy rate was less than half a percent of the system’s workforce and should serve as a benchmark for other state agencies.
The report adds another layer to ongoing discussions about how North Carolina funds state government, education and workforce development. Community colleges are central to many state economic development and job training efforts, and the low number of long-term vacancies could strengthen the system’s case that its staffing dollars are tied closely to active workforce needs.
Editor’s note: This article was drafted with the assistance of artificial intelligence and was reviewed and fact-checked by a member of the NC Political News editorial team before publication.
