S.C. employment rates growing, state figures reveal
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCSC) - South Carolina experienced tremendous growth in 2023 in employment rates, according to a recent report.
There are now over 2 million people employed in the state. Officials with the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce say they expect to see that growth continue into 2024.
According to the agency, some factors for that growth were due to the percentage of jobseekers increasing from 55.8% to 57%, the average wage in the state increased to $30 an hour for the first time, and South Carolina is becoming one of the fastest growing states in the country.
Throughout 2023 there was growth in all areas of employment, but especially in the Education and Health Services industries with over 15,200 jobs added.
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About 90,000 people moved to the state between the middle of 2022 and 2023. With native South Carolinians looking for jobs on top of new people moving here due to employment this created a lot of growth.
“I would say we’re basically as steady as it goes, the numbers look robust and there is no clear indication that that’s going to take a turn for the worst anytime soon,” says Dr. Bryan Grady, Assistant Executive Director for Labor Market Information.
Grady says the only other time South Carolina has seen an increase like this in employment is during COVID-19 recovery.
The Department of Employment and Workforce also partnered with SC Works for their rural initiative program. This year they completed phase one where they held events, such as job fairs in rural communities throughout South Carolina with over 500 companies and organizations who had open jobs. This gave an opportunity for those job seekers in rural areas to connect with employers in their area.
They plan to continue these job fairs and other events in 2024. Everyone is welcome and no registration is required.
Dates and times for these events will be posted in the coming weeks on their website can be found, here. In the meantime, job seekers can click here for any career events.
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