Thanksgiving Week Interactive Quiz

Click on an answer and see if you are correct!

1. The average salary of private sector workers in North Carolina is higher than the average salary of state government employees.

   • True
   • False
   Average salary of state employees is 12.2% higher than private sector workers. In fact, the wage gap is now double what it was in 2000.

2. According to the October Civitas poll, what percentage of North Carolinians believe North Carolina is headed in the “right direction”?

   • 22%
   • 25%
   • 35%
   • 46%
   Look at our poll results to see the answers.

3. North Carolina’s working age population (18-64) increased by 18% from 2000 to 2010. At what rate did the number of private sector workers increase during that time?

   • 14%
   • 19%
   • 23%
   • -4%
   North Carolina’s private sector actually shed a net 134,000 workers during a time when the state’s working age population grew by nearly 930,000. Read the details in this report.

4. When totaling local, state and federal funds, how much does North Carolina spend in operating expenses for each public school student per year?

   • $4,156
   • $5,203
   • $6,842
   • $8,656
   The total spending per pupil in North Carolina for FY 2008-09 was $8,656. That total is made up of $873 federal, $2,130 local and $5,653 state.
   Source: http://www.ncreportcards.org/src/

5. The number of unemployed North Carolinians doubled from 2000 to 2010.

   • True
   • False
   The number of unemployed North Carolinians actually nearly tripled during that time, increasing by almost 300,000.