RALEIGH, N.C. -- Gov. Roy Cooper hasn't given up yet on Apple creating more jobs soon in North Carolina.

• Cooper didn't say why the state didn't land the new jobs 
• He says he is staying silent because an opportunity is still possible
• MORE: North Carolina Fails to Land Apple Site with Thousands of Jobs

In an interview Wednesday with The Associated Press, Cooper declined to comment on why the state didn't land thousands of new jobs that Apple announced last week would go to Austin, Texas. Cooper says he's staying silent because he called Apple an "open recruiting situation'' that could potentially yield more employment. 

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People familiar with recruitment efforts said last spring Apple was strongly considering North Carolina for its new corporate campus. Cooper and the legislature also made cash incentives more attractive to big companies through legislation. 

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Cooper says the state is still in a good position economically, pointing out decisions by Honeywell International and Advance Auto Parts to move headquarters to North Carolina.