Economic Profile

Durham's multi-faceted appeal comes from its diversity.  Durham's economic base is firmly established upon knowledge-based, high-technology industries such as biopharmaceutical, computer, telecommunications and electronics, as evidenced by some of its largest employers - Duke University and Medical Center, IBM, Nortel, and GlaxoSmithKline.

The expansion of Durham's economic base strongly correlates with the growth and development of the world-renowned Research Triangle Park, the largest and most successful planned research and development park in the country.  The 130+ firms there employ 40,000 workers, and more than 20 other industrial, office and research parks ring the perimeter of RTP.  Hundreds of other business opportunities have resulted from "spin-off" enterprises formed to supply or service the companies in the Park.  Other entrepreneurs have applied the knowledge and technology developed in the area to start their own companies.  The state's biotechnology and microelectronics centers, also located in Durham County, enhance the supply of intellectual and technical assets and resources available to business.

Known as The City of Medicine USA, Durham offers a wide spectrum of medical facilities, services and personnel.  Indeed, nearly one in three workers in the labor force works in a health or medical related industry.  Attracted by the influence of the major medical centers, the Duke University School of Medicine, the ongoing medical research, and the growing clinical opportunities; medical doctors are plentiful.  In fact, today Durham County has one of the nation's top five concentrations of physicians per capita.