Study Shows S.C. Manufacturing Supports Higher Wages

South Carolina manufacturing employees make over 15% more per hour than other hourly workers in the state according to a new report by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI)—further demonstrating the state’s commitment to supporting a highly-desirable workforce.

Per the EPI report, South Carolina’s hourly employees working in the manufacturing industry make an average of $17.24 per hour,

compared to $14.90 per hour for hourly workers in other sectors.

Manufacturing continues to be one of the leading sources of employment in the state, accounting for 11.8 percent of all jobs in South Carolina. That percentage ranks 11th in the nation and first in the Southeast according to the EPI report. In terms of total manufacturing jobs, South Carolina’s manufacturing sector ranked in the top half of all U.S. states with 224,800 employees.

“The EPI study clearly demonstrates how important the manufacturing industry is to the state of South Carolina,” said John Lummus, president and CEO of Upstate SC Alliance. “By offering competitive wages to employees, manufacturers in South Carolina are able to attract and retain highly-skilled workers—which is absolutely critical for success in the modern economy.”

South Carolina’s Upstate region is home to over 1,400 manufacturers. The Upstate’s leadership role in the manufacturing renaissance has played a part in South Carolina’s overall success in the industry.

Consider the following facts about manufacturing in Upstate South Carolina:
 

• Manufacturing accounts for over 96,000 jobs in the Upstate, representing over 17% of the region’s labor force.
   
• Two of the top five employers in the Upstate, Michelin and BMW, are automotive manufacturers that together produce more than 16,000 jobs.
   
• Manufacturing accounted for 17.3 percent of the state GDP in South Carolina in 2013 according to figures published by the Bureau of Economic Analysis and 24/7 Wall St.
   
• For 2014, manufacturing accounted for more than $3.9 billion in announced capital investments and more than 3,500 new jobs.
   

For more information on how businesses can take utilize the many advantages of the Upstate, visit https://www.upstatescalliance.com/categories/rankings-recognitions#sthash.WSPTEGL7.dpuf