Description: Years of biotech investment are paying off for North Carolina, which has the highest five- year growth rate in biotechnology jobs nationwide, according to the News & Observer newspaper. The Tar Heel State increased its biotech work force by 18.5 percent from 2001 to 2006, according to a report released by the North Carolina Biotechnology Center today. About 180,000 state residents now work in biotech research, development and manufacturing or for companies catering to the biotech industry, earning about $9.4 million in wages or salaries per year. $1.2 billion in investments over the past decade, and the support the industry has enjoyed from state lawmakers and the taxpayer- funded biotech center, were key drivers for the job creation.

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