A diverse range of companies seeking a competitive advantage have found a business-friendly trifecta in Upstate South Carolina: a top-ranked business climate, a world-class research environment and a superb quality of life.
They are drawn here by our favorable tax rates, market accessibility and the quality and availability of our workforce. Supporting this is our dedication to research and innovation, including R&D facilities for Michelin, Fuji and General Electric and research centers that support the automotive, life sciences, plastics and photonics industries. And it’s all set in a region where cost of living is about 10 percent lower than the national average and cultural and recreational opportunities cater to a diverse range of tastes.
Learn more about each of the dynamic counties and cities that support economic growth in the Upstate by downloading their individualized fact sheets.
Current Population
Total Population (2018)
1,482,416
Total Households (2018)
576,869
Median Age (2018)
39.7
Sources: ESRI Business Analyst
Age % of Population
Under Age 5
5.9%
Age 5 to 9
6.2%
Age 10 to 14
6.2%
Age 15 to 24
13.0%
Age 25 to 34
12.8%
Age 35 to 44
12.2%
Age 45 to 54
13.1%
Age 55 to 64
13.4%
Age 65 to 74
10.3%
Age 75 to 84
4.9%
Age 85+
1.9%
Source: 2018 Projections by ESRI Business Analyst
Income
Year
Median Household
Per Capita
2018
$48,817
$26,714
2023 (projected)
$54,509
$30,457
Source: ESRI Business Analyst
Workforce Education
Highest Level Attained
% Pop, Age 25+
Less than 9th Grade
5.1%
9th to 12th Grade, No Diploma
9.7%
High School Grad / GED
28.8%
Some College, No Degree
20.5%
Associates Degree Only
9.8%
Bachelor’s Degree Only
16.7%
Graduate/Professional Degree
9.4%
High School Grad or Higher
85.2%
Bachelors Degree or Higher
26.1%
Source: 2018 Projections by ESRI Business Analyst
Top Manufacturing Employers
Company
Industry
Employment
BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC
Automobile Manufacturing
11,000
Michelin North America, Inc.
HQ; R&D; Tire Manufacturing
8,162
Milliken & Company
HQ; Textile Mfg & Research
5,570
GE Power & Water
Gas Turbines
3,400
ZF Transmissions, LLC
Automotive parts
2,700
Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
Refrigerators
1,950
Sealed Air Corp – Cryovac
Flexible plastic products
1,700
Bosch Rexroth Corporation
Fluid power pumps and motors
1,480
Timken U.S. Corporation
Automotive parts
1,430
Nestle USA
Frozen prepared foods
1,400
Drive Automotive Ind. of America, Inc.
Automotive parts
1,353
Robert Bosch Corporation
Automotive components
1,200
Fujifilm
Graphic system products
1,170
Draexlmaier Automotive of America
Wire harnesses
1,075
Sources: Manufacturers News, Inc. (2018 data); and individual employers
Upstate Labor Force & Unemployment (Apr 2019)
Total Labor Force
698,998
Unemployed
19,102
Unemployment Rate
2.7%
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics; SC Dept. of Employment & Workforce
