How Upstate South Carolina Helps Businesses Determine Workforce Readiness

Recruiting and hiring top talent takes a significant investment of resources for companies in this day and age. South Carolina understands this issue and is working towards a solution by becoming the nation’s first certified work ready state. In doing so, South Carolina will ensure its new and existing industries have the ability to draw from a highly-qualified job pool.

The workforce development programs found in South Carolina have long been the model for success in the United States, especially the state’s long-established technical college system and nationally recognized state workforce training programs, readySC and Apprenticeship Carolina.

Along with the state’s world-class training programs, counties across the state are working towards their certifications as South Carolina Work Ready Communities (SCWRC). These certifications demonstrate a commitment to fostering a successful business and workforce development environment, assuring local businesses that they are providing a highly-skilled labor pool well above industry standards.

Counties earn work ready status once they have reached or exceeded goals in earning National Career Readiness Certificates (issued by ACT), met or exceeded the three-year graduation rate averages or improvement percentages for their county, and demonstrated support for the initiative from local businesses.

Eight Upstate South Carolina counties have earned certifications, including Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Greenwood, Laurens, Oconee, Pickens and Spartanburg.

In total, the state of South Carolina boasts 32 certified counties, which is more than any other state in the nation according to the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce.

Following the recent announcement of seven more South Carolina counties earning their certification, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley stated, “We are well on our way to becoming the nation’s first certified work ready state, and that is a huge reason to celebrate in every part of South Carolina. This is a perfect example of Team South Carolina coming together to prove how committed we are to training a highly skilled workforce that is capable of meeting every need a company in our state may have.”

For more information on South Carolina Work Ready Communities, visit http://www.scworkready.org.

For more information on workforce development in Upstate South Carolina, visit https://www.upstatescalliance.com/about-upstate/information-downloads#workforce-education.