Labor
The Carolinas’ ability to attract and retain high growth industries increasingly depends on our capacity to supply a skilled labor force. Programs in the Carolinas are designed to upgrade the skills of our existing workers, prepare youth and other emerging workers to enter the labor force, and reconnect dislocated workers and welfare recipients to the workforce.
| North Carolina | South Carolina | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civilian Labor Force 1 | 4,280,600 | 11th in US | 2,076,900 | 25th in US |
| Manufacturing Employees | 576,500 | 13% of total labor force | 265,200 | 13% of total labor force |
| Unemployment Rate 2 | 5.4% | 5.2% Nationally | 7.1% | 5.2% Nationally |
| Union Rate | 3.2% | Lowest in US | 4.9% | 2nd lowest in US |
| Median Wages Manufacturing | $13.18 | 45th in US | $14.42 | 34th in US |
| Unemployment Insurance Taxes | Avg. $259 /employee |
18th in US | Avg. $140 /employee |
35th in US |
| Number High School Grads | 81.4% | 40th in US | 80.8% | 46th in US |
| Number College Grads | 23.8% | 35th in US | 22.3% | 42th in US |
| Science and Engineering Doctorates | 697 | 10th in US | 240 | 29th in US |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2003
1 The definition of the civilian labor force is the total employed plus the unemployed.
2 The unemployment rate is calculated by dividing the unemployed by the civilian labor force.
Fast Facts:
- The Carolinas have traditionally been home to much of the US textile industry. Movement of the textile industry offshore has created a surplus of highly qualified manufacturing employees in the Carolinas.
- The Carolinas offer a committed, well-educated workforce that has been trained and re-tooled by the nation’s leading community college system. According to research conducted by the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, North Carolina ranks 3rd and South Carolina ranks 6th in the nation in productivity.
- Wages and the cost of living are among the lowest in the nation in the Carolinas.
The Carolinas’ ability to attract and retain high growth industries increasingly depends on our capacity to supply a skilled labor force. Programs in the Carolinas are designed to upgrade the skills of our existing workers, prepare youth and other emerging workers to enter the labor force, and reconnect dislocated workers and welfare recipients to the workforce.
| North Carolina | South Carolina | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civilian Labor Force 1 | 4,280,600 | 11th in US | 2,076,900 | 25th in US |
| Manufacturing Employees | 576,500 | 13% of total labor force | 265,200 | 13% of total labor force |
| Unemployment Rate 2 | 5.4% | 5.2% Nationally | 7.1% | 5.2% Nationally |
| Union Rate | 3.2% | Lowest in US | 4.9% | 2nd lowest in US |
| Median Wages Manufacturing | $13.18 | 45th in US | $14.42 | 34th in US |
| Unemployment Insurance Taxes | Avg. $259 /employee |
18th in US | Avg. $140 /employee |
35th in US |
| Number High School Grads | 81.4% | 40th in US | 80.8% | 46th in US |
| Number College Grads | 23.8% | 35th in US | 22.3% | 42th in US |
| Science and Engineering Doctorates | 697 | 10th in US | 240 | 29th in US |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2003
1 The definition of the civilian labor force is the total employed plus the unemployed.
2 The unemployment rate is calculated by dividing the unemployed by the civilian labor force.
Fast Facts:
- The Carolinas have traditionally been home to much of the US textile industry. Movement of the textile industry offshore has created a surplus of highly qualified manufacturing employees in the Carolinas.
- The Carolinas offer a committed, well-educated workforce that has been trained and re-tooled by the nation’s leading community college system. According to research conducted by the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, North Carolina ranks 3rd and South Carolina ranks 6th in the nation in productivity.
- Wages and the cost of living are among the lowest in the nation in the Carolinas
