RALEIGH – As Apple continues to negotiate for a possible new campus in Research Triangle Park, sources tell WRAL TechWire that the tech giant is already recruiting employees for planned Triangle locations.

“They are recruiting, and new employees will start right away,” a source involved in workforce development and recruiting said.

One source described Apple’s plans as a “hiring spree.”

“They already are attempting to recruit from a lot of the top companies in the Triangle,” another said.

Apple is looking to hire people such as recruiting managers who in turn can help fill such positions as engineering, software and call center support.

“That strategy makes sense,” added a corporate recruiter who asked not to be identified. While he has not seen postings for specific jobs at Apple, he said the idea that the firm would seek to hire human resources personnel who already know the Triangle market would enable Apple to jump start hiring.

Apple’s plans to hire people quickly has been confirmed by another source who says the state has been told to expect to train 1,000 workers immediately with several thousand to be recruited and trained later.


Earlier this year, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced plans to build a new corporate campus and to hire thousands of workers as part of a corporate expansion strategy.

However, Apple has not made a final decision to expand in North Carolina.

While a deal is “95 percent done,” according to a source briefed by people familiar with the negotiations, Apple and the North Carolina Department of Commerce must settle on final terms.

Gov. Roy Cooper also vetoed the budget passed by the Republican-controlled General Assembly. That budget includes language for a tax incentives package that aligns with the development package Apple is reported to have discussed with the state. It does not name a specific company.

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A deal could be reached shortly after the General Assembly votes to override Cooper’s veto. The Senate has already done so and the House, which also has a Republican super-majority, is expected to take its override vote early next week.

Under plans previously reported by WRAL TechWire and WRAL’s @NCCapitol, Apple is planning a three-part investment worth some $1.5 billion. The components are:

  • An initial site in Cary to support some 1,000 employees immediately. Although previously reported as a call center, WRAL TechWire has been told that it is “more than” a hub for customer support.
  • A $600 million multi-building campus to be constructed in the southern portion of Research Triangle Park which is inside Wake County. WRAL TechWire previously reported that Wake County commissioners authorized the county economic development team to negotiate with Apple. The package is reported to include property tax abatements.
  • A $900 million expansion of an existing data center facility in Western North Carolina near Hickory and Lenoir.

The entire Apple package could produce as many as 10,000 jobs, according to sources.
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