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Wanted:
400,000 Skilled People A Year |
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he automotive industry continues to be South Carolina’s fastest growing
manufacturing sector, primed by the Southeast’s lowest corporate tax rate, and
one of the lowest rates of unionization in the country. BMW, which located in
South Carolina in 1992, is building a $300 million addition to its Spartanburg County
plant, adding about 500 jobs. And only 18 months after Honda began making all-terrain
vehicles in Timmonsville, they’re adding 50,000 square feet.
Want to be in the movies? Come to North Carolina, which boasts the largest full-service
motion picture facility in the United States east of California. During its 17-year history,
EUE/Screen Gems Studios-North Carolina has been home to more than 300 film,
television and commercial productions, including the recent
Divine Secrets of the
Ya Ya Sisterhood.
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f course, even those without star appeal can consider North Carolina’s tremendous
financial sector for a career shift, as Charlotte solidifies its position as a major financial
center in the country.
For those looking at the big picture, consider this assessment by Lynn Reaser, chief
economist and senior market strategist for Banc of America Capital Management. “The
Carolinas certainly did not escape the national recession but appear to have turned the
corner and should outperform many other parts of the nation in the period ahead.”
Ms. Reaser continues: “Job losses have been concentrated in manufacturing, particularly
in furniture, textiles, and apparel.” Nevertheless, the Carolinas hold strong long-term
potential as they transit to sectors with higher-growth prospects, she adds. North
Carolina will continue to attract technology firms in the next few years because of its
highly regarded universities and the Research Triangle. Cutbacks in capital spending will
slow the near-term prospects for telecom and computer companies. The health care
sector, however, has experienced little impact of the national slowing.
South Carolina, Ms. Reaser points out, has attracted a successful cluster of auto plants
and supplier firms. It also will continue to draw business firms and households because
of its more affordable business and housing costs.
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That looks good for people seeking jobs in the Carolinas, but what about prospects for their children?
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Their future is looking just as rosy, as schools work hard to ensure that students
have access to top-drawer technology instruction. For example, both Carolinas are
wired to the Internet in every single public school. In North Carolina students are
required to pass a technology proficiency assessment to receive a high school diploma.
The unemployment rate in South Carolina is hovering around 5.5 percent. In North Carolina,
it’s about 6.7 percent.
Over the past 10 years, nearly $51 billion has been invested in the state, creating more than
252,000 new jobs, reports Mike Daniels of the South Carolina Employment Security Commission.
For both Carolinas in 2001, a total of $11.08 billion was invested, creating 53,137 jobs.
Much of South Carolina’s new job creation has been taking place in Charleston, Columbia, and the
Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson area. Call Centers that serve national or regional markets are a
growth industry in the state.
Seeking a career shift? The North Carolina Employment Security Commission (NC-ESC) offers an
electronic resume resource. The state’s Talent
Bank, an online network, allows employers to
view active resumes through their PCs.
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Center research over 16 years also reports that 89 percent of newcomer households bring at least
one skilled person seeking employment.
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A region-wide public-private partnership (Carolina Partners For Ready-To-Work-Force) is
in development to create web-based recruitment programs assisting educated, skilled people
in finding jobs faster. This international talent hunt will help match readers and Web browsers
who complete the Carolina Facts Survey with the best employers. “Of the 410,000
people relocating to the Carolinas annually, surveys consistently show about 15 percent of these
households intend to start or expand a business,” says Patrick Mason at the Center for Carolina Living.
Just email to receive additional information
for firms interested in becoming a Ready-To-Work Force recruiting partner is
available from the Center.
South Carolina’s upstate region, centered on Greenville, Spartanburg and Anderson, is the
Palmetto State’s manufacturing center. Here, the concentration is on textiles, machinery
and automotive products. By the year 2005, the Carolinas will have a labor workforce
exceeding six million people. The fastest-growing sectors are services and retail trade.
Electronic pagination system workers, computer engineers and systems analysts rank in the
top five fastest-growing occupations in the Carolinas.
Skilled people in the construction trades are in high demand in every town. In the service
sector, both states are attracting a large share of back office and telemarketing businesses.
With the expansion of technical college programs, on-the-job training partnerships and incentives,
the time may be just about perfect to consider a new business opportunity in the Carolinas.
As Ms. Reaser puts it, “The Carolinas show up on the radar screens of many companies as possessing a
high quality of life, relatively low cost of living, and favorable business climate.” That’s good for job seekers,
as well as job providers!
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Katherine O. Pettit has worked as a writer, magazine editor, printer and
public relations consultant. The Columbia resident has published
more than 250 articles in magazines and newspapers. Her writing
explores a variety of subjects including travel, lifestyles, business
and management.
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