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 The South Carolina Department of Commerce recently announced that 2007 was another record-breaking year for the recruitment of jobs and investment to South Carolina. The numbers point to strong economic activity, large job creation levels in non-urban areas, world-class companies choosing to invest heavily in South Carolina, growth in the state’s manufacturing sector, and a diversity of industry investments.
In 2007, the Department of Commerce was involved in recruiting 15,666 jobs and $4.045 billion in capital investment to the state. On average in 2007, the state saw either a new company decide to locate in South Carolina or an existing business commit to expand operations in the state more than three times each week of the year. The Department of Commerce’s recruitment of 15,666 jobs in 2007 shattered the recruitment record set in 2006 – which was also a record-breaking year – by more than 1,300 jobs. In the past two years alone, the Department of Commerce has recruited more than 30,000 new jobs to the state. Additionally, the recruitment of $4.045 billion in capital investment for 2007 surpassed the 2006 records by more than $1 billion.
Commerce Secretary Joe Taylor credited Gov. Mark Sanford’s efforts to enhance the state’s business climate for much of the success in 2007. “South Carolina’s business-friendly climate, quality infrastructure, and skilled workforce continue to strengthen the state’s ability to recruit new investment and high-paying jobs. Gov Sanford’s commitment to business fundamentals with efforts like workers’ comp reform, tort reform, and income tax relief have propelled our ability to attract new investments from world-class companies and grow the state’s existing businesses,” said Joe Taylor, Secretary of Commerce. “Commerce’s 2007 totals reaffirm that South Carolina is a preferred location in which to do business. Additionally, we continue to see growth in new areas and an unprecedented amount of world-renowned companies choosing to locate here and bringing with them jobs and investments that will have a lasting impact on our state’s economy.”
In 2007, a host of marquee names and world-class companies chose to invest in South Carolina. Some of those investments include: Google, Starbucks, Adidas, Freightliner, Cytec Engineered Materials, GE Aviation, Staples, Kraft, and 3M. The jobs recruited by Commerce in 2007 will be felt throughout South Carolina, including non-urban areas. According to the South Carolina Employment Security Commission, 21 percent of the state’s labor force resides in counties that are not part of a metropolitan statistical area. In 2007, more than 34 percent of the jobs recruited by the Department of Commerce went to these counties. Commerce’s recruitment efforts included large commitments in the manufacturing sector with companies committing to more than 26 new manufacturing jobs every day. In fact, three out of every five jobs recruited by the Department of Commerce in 2007, nearly 9,500, were in the manufacturing sector. While manufacturing fared well, the state also witnessed diversification of industries from Commerce’s recruitment efforts in 2007. Industry trends for last year include: Automotive – 3,066 jobs and $1.69 billion in capital investment; Plastics – 965 jobs, $342.9 million, Chemicals – 616 jobs, $917.8 million, Distribution/Logistics – 2,159 jobs, $274.3 million, and Metal Fabrication – 1,879 jobs, $236.4 million. Additionally, foreign investment comprised 26 percent of all projects recruited in 2007 and accounted for 31 percent of all jobs recruited. Significant publicly announced job creators in 2007:
(Image provided by SCDOC.)
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