Workforce & talent in South Carolina

South Carolina’s workforce is one of the state’s greatest competitive advantages. Employers benefit from a growing talent pipeline supported by strong educational institutions, nationally recognized training programs and close collaboration between industry and education. Combined with a flexible labor environment and a culture of hard work and adaptability, these resources help companies find, train and retain the talent they need to succeed.

SC’s workforce is built for growth

manufacturing workforce in the nation

325k+

people trained through readySC™

53%

of new residents hold a bachelor’s degree or higher

2.6M+

people in South Carolina’s labor force

100k+

average annual technical college enrollment

Building tomorrow's workforce

South Carolina's workforce pipeline is shaped through close collaboration between educators and employers. From career readiness programs and technical training to research universities and industry partnerships, the state's education system is aligned to meet the needs of growing industries.

Top-ranked public and private K-12 options
47 career and technical education centers available to high school students
16 technical colleges
8 historically black colleges and universities
33 public colleges and universities
Nationally recognized institutions include: Clemson University, University of South Carolina, Medical University of South Carolina, South Carolina State University, College of Charleston

Workforce programs built around employers

South Carolina offers workforce programs designed to help companies recruit, train and retain talent. Whether you’re launching an operation, expanding a facility or developing specialized skills within your existing workforce, these programs connect employers with support aligned to their needs.

readySC™

A division of the SC Technical College System, readySC™ provides recruiting and customized training assistance to eligible companies locating or expanding in South Carolina at little or no cost.

Explore readySC™

Retraining credits

The SC Technical College System’s retraining program helps eligible existing businesses strengthen employee skills and offset qualifying training costs through withholding tax credits.

Explore retraining credits

Apprenticeship Carolina™

Apprenticeship Carolina™ helps employers create customized, US Department of Labor-registered programs at no cost, with state tax credits available to eligible employers.

Explore Apprenticeship Carolina™