RALEIGH  -- Governor Pat McCrory has launched a fact-finding tour in which local workforce development teams will visit 1,000 businesses throughout North Carolina’s 100 counties during the next 100 days to learn the skill sets the state’s economy demands.

The "1000 in 100" initiative is part of the new NCWorks program which essentially put all of the state’s workforce development efforts under one roof.

“During my travels across the state, business leaders and small business owners consistently tell me they can’t find all the qualified employees they need," Governor McCrory said in a press release. “Yet, we have workers who are eager to get to work, but they can't find jobs. The 1000 in 100 initiative will allow us to learn first-hand the training our schools, community colleges and universities must provide so our workers have the skills that will allow them to prosper and their employers to grow North Carolina’s economy.”

The governor kicked off the "1000 in 100" listening tour at DB Global Technology Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank, developing proprietary software solutions for the bank’s Group Technology & Operations division, where he and Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker listened to the concerns of company officials in finding, hiring and retaining skilled workers. DB Global has worked closely with Wake Tech to provide prospective workers JAVA as well as leadership training.

"NCWorks is a partnership to connect job seekers to employers," Decker aid . "This is another example of how our workforce and education systems are finding new ways to work together to make North Carolina's communities stronger."

The information gathered from the "1000 in 100" initiative will be combined with other research. Governor McCrory said the data will guide continued streamlining of workforce development under the NCWorks program.