Workforce Training

CNBC ranks the South Carolina workforce as the 5th best in the nation, based on quality and availability of workers and workforce training. This comes as no surprise as the 10-county Upstate encompasses a population of more than 1.37 million and has grown at a rate of 10% since 2000. South Carolina is also a right-to-work state and has one of the lowest unionization rates in the nation.

South Carolina has a strong workforce development system.  Highlighted by the SC Technical College System and readySC^TM program, it is capable of rapidly preparing and retraining workers for new manufacturing systems, such as those potentially required by aerospace manufacturing operations.  
 

For almost 50 years, readySCTM, has been recognized as one of the nation's premier and most-experienced workforce training programs. Operated through the SC Technical College System, it provides customized workforce training at little or no cost to companies located in the area

Technical Education

Upstate South Carolina is home to four technical colleges focused on serving the needs of local business and industry. The technical college system works hand-in-hand with its affiliate programs: readySC^TM , Apprenticeship Carolina^TM  and QuickJobs Carolina^TM, so companies located in the area can take full advantage of the extensive education and training network.

The technical college system in the Upstate offers multiple aerospace related degrees and certificates, including:

• Associate's in Aircraft Maintenance Technology
• Certificate in Aviation Powerplant Theory/Systems
• Certificate in Aviation Airframe Structure & Systems
• Certificate in Aviation Fundamentals
  

Workforce Development Solution - Case Study

With a national shortage of sheet metal workers, Greenville Technical College in cooperation with the Greenville County Workforce Investment Board developed a unique program to train workers to meet Lockheed Martin’s need that included a state-of-the-art sheet metal lab for training and aircraft-related electricity courses.

The created curriculum included the following skill sets: installing, inspecting and removing rivets, dexterity with sheet metal tools, cutting and layout procedures, countersinking, microshaving, counter-boring, crew removal, measurement readings

Specialty Training

Specialty training is also available through the following:

• Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
• Carolina Aeronautical Testing & Certification Center