Workforce Availability

Workforce

Year

Greenville County

Greenville MSA*

Upstate Region*

2010 Annual Average

219,150

308,581

637,034

2009 Annual Average

228,139

322,282

661,945

2008 Annual Average

224,165

318,730

648,400

2007 Annual Average

220,704

313,472

648,641

2006 Annual Average

216,800

305,330

643,960

 Source: South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce and complied by Infomentum

Employed

Year

Greenville County

Greenville MSA*

Upstate Region*

2010 Annual Average

198,090

278,111

566,902

2009 Annual Average

205,390

289,351

583,143

2008 Annual Average

211,500

299,908

604,598

2007 Annual Average

209,828

297,111

610,321

2006 Annual Average

205,070

288,040

601,530

Source: South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce and complied by Infomentum

Unemployed

Year

Greenville County

Greenville MSA*

Upstate Region*

2010 Annual Average / Unemployment Rate 

21,060 / 9.6%

30,470 / 9.8%

70,332 / 11.0%

2009 Annual Average / Unemployment Rate

22,744 / 10.0%

32,931 / 10.2%

77,802/ 11.8%

2008 Annual Average / Unemployment Rate

12,665 / 5.7%

18,822 / 5.9%

43,802 / 6.8%

2007 Annual Average / Unemployment Rate

10,876 / 4.9%

16,361 / 5.2%

38,320 / 5.9%

2006 Annual Average / Unemployment Rate

11,730 / 5.4%

17,290 / 5.7%

42,430 / 6.6%

Source: South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce and complied by Infomentum

* Greenville MSA = Greenville, Laurens and Pickens Counties; Upstate Region = Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg and Union Counties

Unemployed - Current

Please view the latest labor market information for South Carolina by county.

 

Potential Labor Pool

Source:

Greenville County

Greenville MSA

Upstate Region

The Unemployed: Actively Seeking Work

21,060

30,496

70,332

Person Reaching Employment Age: 18 annually (graduating from high school)

4,236

5,000

11,154

College Students: Enrolled in area schools

23.692

46,981

84,504

College & Tech Graduates: Graduating each year

4,462

9,485

15,958

Total Potential Employees

53,450

91,962

181,948

Source: SC Department of Commerce, SC Commission on Higher Education, SC Department of Education, Greenville Area Development Corporation, U.S. Bureau of the Census, and Infomentum

The Unemployed

In 2010, the average annual unemployment rate was 9.6% in Greenville County, 9.9% in the Greenville MSA and 11.0% in the Upstate Region.  The average number of unemployed persons was 21,060 in Greenville County, 30,496 in the MSA and 70,332 in the Upstate.  The unemployed consists of those people that who do not have a job and are actively seeking employment.

Persons Reaching Employment Age

One of the largest groups of potential employees is considered to be those turning 18 each year in the Upstate.  Over 11,000 students graduated from Upstate high schools in 2009. Of those graduating from high school, about 73.5% will continue on with their education. Most of the remaining graduates will enter the workforce.

College Students

Those attending colleges in the Upstate accounted for an enrollment of  84,500 in 2009.  These students are potential interns, co-op partners, as well as part-time and seasonal employees.  This pool of talent provides companies a low-cost alternative for high quality white-collar support positions. Research shows that a majority of these graduates will remain in the area after graduation.

College and Tech Graduates

Upstate South Carolina four-year Colleges and Universities produced 10,626 graduates in 2008-2009.  Technical Colleges and two-year colleges produced another 5,332 graduates.

Other Considerations:

Persons Who Would Consider Re-entering Work Force

A 2009 Pathfinders Report estimates that 9,400 individuals in the Greenville MSA, who are not currently employed or actively seeking work, would consider re-entering the workforce. This group is mostly female (75 percent), generally well-educated and fully capable of entering the workforce, given sufficient opportunity and motivation.

Commuting Patterns

2009 Census data showed that 31,661 Greenville County residents commuted to jobs in other Upstate counties. Experience shows that workers in this group would take comparable jobs closer to home if given the opportunity.

The Under-Employed

The under-employed represent a large sector of potential employees.  These employees work 40 hours per week in jobs in which they are overqualified.  As a group, they have a strong work ethic and are among the first to respond to more rewarding job opportunities.  In 2009, Pathfinders reported the skills of 81,800 underemployed persons in the Greenville MSA.

Skills of 81,800 Underemployed for the Greenville MSA

Skills

Number with Skills

Office Operations

 49,900

Medical / Health Services

13,900

Warehouse / Materials Handling

45,800

Manufacturing / Assembly / Fabrication

46,600

Information Technology

36,000

Technician / Quality Assurance

23,700

Maintenance / Installation / Repair

31,100

Electronics / Engineering

18,000

Note: Individuals could report multiple skill sets.
Source: Pathfinders Independent Study, September 2009

  • Those willing to upgrade to New Job for $12.00/hour:                13,600
  • Those willing to upgrade to New Job for $16.00/hour:                37,300

Source: Pathfinders Independent Study, September 2009