More than 21% of North Carolina's four-year-olds enrolled in the state's pre-kindergarten programs during the 2022-2023 school year, up from the prior year but still below the state's pre-pandemic highs, according to the National Institute for Early Education Research.

North Carolina ranks 29th in public pre-K enrollment, new report shows

Durham County budget increases funding for pre-K students

Compared to pre-pandemic prices, ground beef is up 35%, chips are up 45%, bread is up 57% and a 12-ounce can of soda is up 66%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which tracks trends on common grocery store items.

WRAL Investigates: 'Greedflation' and other drivers behind inflation at the grocery store

A look at inflation at the grocery store

All assets associated with the tag: Business Networking

Business networking Coverage

When you're a mother, it can be overwhelming to think about taking time to invest in yourself. It's true for moms who work at home with their families, and it's true for moms with careers outside of the home. 

8 personal development events especially for moms 

Thriving Women’s Conference

WRAL contributor Stephanie Llorente has never met a coworking space she didn't like. 

List: Places to try coworking in the Triangle

How American Underground's startup community is adapting to COVID-19

Blush Cowork is a female-focused coworking space that includes childcare.

>>> THE PANDEMIC HAS FORCED MANY WOMEN, ESPECIALLY WORKING MOMS, OUT OF THE WORKFORCE. NOW THERE IS A NEW CO-WORKING SPACE OPENING TOMORROW IN CARY, IT IS HELPING WOMEN TO BALANCE HOME LIFE AND PROFESSIONAL ASPIRATIONS. JOE FISHER REPORTS. >> MY BUSINESS DEPENDS ON MEETING NEW PEOPLE. >> Reporter: JILL IS A COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE AGENT WHO DITCHED HER CORPORATE JOB THREE YEARS AGO AND HAS BEEN WORKING FROM HOME WITH THREE YOUNG BOYS. >> FINGERS ARE COMING UNDER THE DOOR WHILE I AM ON A REALLY IMPORTANT CONFERENCE CALL. >> Reporter: SHE IS NOW MAKING THE TRANSITION TO BLUSH COWORK, AN OPEN CONCEPT WORKING SPACE IN CARY  BUILD AS WOMEN FOCUSED WITH AN UNMISTAKABLE FEMALE VIBE. >> REALLY, WE WANT TO CREATE A COMMUNITY OF WOMEN. WHO CAN ALL HELP EACH OTHER ACHIEVE. >> Reporter: ALLISON ROGERS IS THE COFOUNDER AND SAYS THE 11,000 SQUARE FEET IS A SPACE TO COLLABORATE. BUT THE DIFFERENCE MAKER IS THE ON-SITE CHILDCARE AT JUST $10 PER HOUR. >> AB THEY HAVE ANY BUSINESS WHERE THEY NEED TO NETWORK AND MEET OTHER PEOPLE TO REALLY HAVE THEIR BUSINESS TAKE OFF. AND SOMETIMES YOU JUST NEED A PHYSICAL PLACE TO WORK THAT IS NOT YOUR HOME. >> Reporter: FEMALE EMPLOYMENT DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC. BUT THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE SAYS FEMALE EMPLOYMENT IS NOW OUTPACING MALE EMPLOYMENT COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC. >> THE RECOVERY HAS BEEN MUCH MORE ROBUST FOR WOMEN. WOMEN'S EMPLOYMENT HAS RECOVERED FASTER THAN FOR MEN. >> Reporter: JILL ISN'T SLOWING DOWN, HOPING TO GROW HER REAL ESTATE BUSINESS IN A SPACE THAT HAS EVERYTHING SHE NEEDS. >> I THINK AN OPPORTUNITY LIKE THIS GIVES YOU THE NETWORKING POTENTIAL AND CAMARADERIE AND SPACE TO DO YOUR BEST WORK, KNOWING YOUR KIDS ARE CLOSE BY AND SAFE AND HAPPY. >> Reporter: I AM JILL FISHER, WRAL NEWS,  CARY. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, THERE IS A MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP STARTING AT $250 PER MONTH. CHILDCARE IS A SEPARATE CHARGE BUT AT $10 PER HOUR WITH A DAILY

Cary co-working space focuses on working moms

Blush Cowork is a women-focused co-working space that includes on-site childcare. Blush has desks, conference rooms and private rooms.



New Cary co-working space is geared toward working moms

Blush cowork

If you're looking for that first job after being out of the workforce for a period of time, you are not a typical job-seeker. Therefore, you should not be conducting a typical job search process.

Ready to re-enter the workforce? Start with these tips

Typing

If you're working from home these days.. you may be missing the camaraderie.. and the connections.. that come with the office environment. But working remotely doesn't mean you have to miss out on networking.

When the Corona virus pandemic forced employees across the nation toe work from home, millions were left without an essential component of professional life networking. There's this new era of work from home, and professionals were more disconnected than ever before. Forced to get creative, they're turning to virtual networking platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Fish Bowl, a social network app that connects professionals to chat, ask questions and network for jobs. Lauren Happen is co founder. Zoom is the new meeting room. Fish Bowl is the new office hallways I posted on Fish Bowl, and I went specifically into the women and advertising. Whole users interact direct Klay with peers and company leadership and groups called bowls carry Gantcher. An early user landed a job there. Did I said, Would someone be willing to pass along my creative portfolio to the recruiter there? And some really kind stranger volunteered, And later that week, I got an interview and then later on the job. With an estimated 85% of jobs filled by some form of networking, experts say it's a critical tool. Networking, whether in person or cover times virtually is a necessity. People come to fish Bowl to connect with others in the industry or company, tohave riel conversations and candid making connections at a much needed time. Susan McGinnis, NBC News Washington.

Tips for networking while working from home 

The Class of 2020 finished their degrees virtually and graduated to enter the worst job market since the 1930s. The burden is especially difficult for students who worked to put themselves through college and took out student loans. Now, it may take longer to see their hard work and investment in their future pay off. 

Networking, patience key to post-pandemic job search for Class of 2020

Katie Dunn is a Raleigh mother who is now using the skills she developed in the business world to get parents back to work after they take time off from careers to focus on their families. 

How to return to the workforce after raising a family 

Family returning to work

Alexa Rose Carlin, founder of Women Empower X, said she wanted to allow diverse women to connect with one another. The conference hits Raleigh on Oct. 12. Get tickets at womenempowerx.com.

Women Empower X conference comes to Raleigh next weekend

Negotiating can be anxiety-inducing, as it involves the possibility of rejection and embarrassment.

How to improve your negotiating skills

The American Tobacco Campus is accepting applications for a new pop-up space meant to highlight innovative small businesses in a thriving urban setting.

Business networking Coverage

8 personal development events especially for moms

List: Places to try coworking in the Triangle

Cary co-working space focuses on working moms

New Cary co-working space is geared toward working moms

Ready to re-enter the workforce? Start with these tips

Tips for networking while working from home

Networking, patience key to post-pandemic job search for Class of 2020

How to return to the workforce after raising a family

Women Empower X conference comes to Raleigh next weekend

How to improve your negotiating skills

How to improve your negotiating skills

American Tobacco Campus offers rotating space for retailers