largest industries in north carolina
- In 2016, North Carolina real GDP grew 1.6 percent; the 2015-2016 national change was 1.5 percent. was 1.1 percent. In 2016, the largest industry in North Carolina was finance, insurance, real estate, rental, and leasing. accounted for 19.2 percent of North Carolina GDP and had 2.0 percent real growth. government, which accounted for 13.3 percent of North Carolina GDP and had 0.2 percent real growth.