Midlands South Carolina Local Area
Workforce Report
2013-2014
Midlands Local Area Workforce Report
The Midlands Workforce Development Board (MWDB) serves employers and job
seekers in Fairfield, Lexington and Richland counties. In 2012, the MWDB
commissioned the Central Midlands Council of Government (CMCOG) to conduct an
update to the Board’s 2009 Strategic Plan. This Workforce Report is one of the goals
from the CMCOG’s update of the 2009 Plan.
The CMCOG is the administrative agent for the MWDB and was required to prepare a
Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) in 2012 as part of the
CMCOG’s designation by the Economic Development Authority as an Economic
Development District. At the time of this preparation of this Workforce Report, the
CMCOG has published their 2012 – 2017 CEDS. In the interest of brevity, when data is
from the 2012 CEDS, it will be referenced, but not reproduced in this document.
The entire document may be viewed at:
http://www.centralmidlands.org/pdf/CEDS_FINAL_Adopted_6-28-2012.pdf
A detailed analysis of area high schools was requested by the Midlands Workforce
Development Board’s Youth Council as part of the area’s strategic planning process. All
information contained in this study was taken from the 2012 “School Report Cards”
available on the SC Department of Education’s website.
In this report the following areas are addressed:
I. Area Labor Force
II. Area Employers
III. Analysis of Trends
IV. Adult – Dislocated Worker Strategy
V. Youth Strategy
VI. Continuous Improvement
Midlands Local Area Workforce Report 2013-2014
The Goals of this report are to inform the interested public and system stakeholders of
labor market conditions in the three counties, to provide a common language for
discussing the local labor market between Midlands’s education and workforce partners
and to serve as a baseline for the allocation of program resources.
I.
Area Labor Force
To better understand the potential for growth and to identify possible future challenges
the Workforce Report will look at some selected characteristics of the local labor
market.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics defines the labor force of an area as all of the
residents who are employed or unemployed but seeking employment, at least 16 years
of age and not institutionalized or serving in the military. The labor force for the local
area was 293,365 with 3.1% unemployment rate in 2000. In 2010 the area’s labor force
had grown to 323,378 with an unemployment rate of 9.2%.
Table 1: Age Cohorts for Midlands – Ages 15 and Older
Age Range
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85 and Older
Midlands
51,768
56,932
49,090
43,974
45,326
44,771
47,845
45,911
40,530
34,464
23,884
16,705
12,965
9,055
8,872
Source: US Census/American Community Survey
Midlands Local Area Workforce Report 2013-2014
The graph above shows that the Midlands area has a relatively young potential
workforce when the median age (29.1 Midlands) is compared to the US (42.3) and SC
(37.9). The relative youth of the area is partially accounted for by the presence of the
University of South Carolina and other area educational institutions.
Table 2: 2010 Educational Attainment for Population 25 and older
County
No High High
Some
Associates Bachelors Postwith at
School
School
College
Grad
least
Diploma Diploma
Degree high
school
diploma
23.9%
41.1%
15.5% 5.8%
9.2%
4.5%
76.1%
Fairfield
31.0%
21.1% 9.6%
17.0%
9.3%
88.0%
Lexington 12.1%
23.7%
20.2% 8.4%
22.1%
14.4% 88.8%
Richland 11.2%
15.4%
30.5%
20.7%
8.5%
15.7%
8.6%
83.9%
SC
with at
least a
four
year
degree
13.7%
26.3%
36.5%
24.3%
Source: 2010 US Census
Table 3: Area High School Graduation and Dropout Rates 2009 to 2012
High School
(alphabetically by
district)
Fairfield Central
Gilbert
Lexington
Pelion
White Knoll
Airport
Brookland-Cayce
Batesburg-Leesville
Swansea
Swansea Freshman
Academy
Chapin
Dutch Fork
Irmo
AC Flora
CA Johnson
Columbia
Dreher
2009
Graduate/Dropout
2010
Graduate/Dropout
2011
Graduate/Dropout
2012
Graduate/Dropout
73.0%/3.1%
81.3%/1.6%
84.8%/2.5%
72.8%/1.0%
77.3%/1.8%
61.7%/4.9%
75.1%/3.1%
72.4%/4.8%
66.1%/8.2%
61.9%/1.4%
81.5%/1.9%
85.3%/1.7%
70.3%/0.5%
76.3%/1.0%
60.5%/3.4%
67.4%/4.2%
73.8%/5.1%
66.1%/4.4%
76.9%/1.5%
81.0%/2.2%
85.6%/0.8%
79.6%/3.6%
84.0%/1.3%
69.8%/3.6%
71.9%/6.2%
78.7%/2.9%
69.7%/5.8%
*
*
61.9%/2.7%
81.5%/1.3%
85.3%/1.2%
70.3%/3.8%
76.3%1.5%
60.5%/0.4%
67.4%/1.4%
73.8%/6.4%
66.1%/4.8%
*
92.8%/1.9%
85.2%/2.0%
80.2%/2.8%
83.2%/2.8%
50.4%/11.8%
64.7%/3.5%
81.7%/3.4%
92.9%/1.0%
87.5%/1.7%
82.4%/2.2%
66.6%/3.5%
48.8%/11.8%
62.4%/3.6%
79.7%/2.9%
92.9%/0.9%
87.5%/1.5%
82.4%/1.7%
66.6%/3.8%
48.8%/8.5%
62.4%/2.5%
79.7%/2.6%
92.7%/0.7%
87.4%/1.6%
83.0%/1.3%
73.2%/3.4%
52.6%/11.1%
72.0%/2.5%
79.7%/1.9%
Midlands Local Area Workforce Report 2013-2014
NA/0.4
Eau Claire
Lower Richland
Pendergrass Fairwold
Richland One Charter
Middle College
W J Keenan
William S Hall
Blythewood
Richland Northeast
Richland Two Charter
High School
Ridge View
Spring Valley
69.4%/6.0%
76.7%/5.4%
NA/0.0%
65.3%/6.5%
61.0%/6.8%
NA/0.0%
65.3%/2.4%
61.0%/4.2%
0.0%/0.0%
65.8%/1.8%
64.6%/8.6%
0.0%/0.0%
74.1%/13.5%
86.4%/0.0%
86.4%/0.0%
87.1%/0.8%
69.2%/5.7%
NA/0.0%
75.1%/3.3%
65.4%/5.0%
66.5%/4.5%
NA/0.0%
82.6%/3.1%
56.0%/3.8%
66.5%/3.8%
0.0%/0.0%
82.6%/2.9%
56.0%/3.5%
74.7%/2.0%
0.0%/3.2%
83.0%/2.3%
70.5%/1.6%
*
*
NA/NA
29.2%/0.0%
76.2%/2.3%
70.6%/1.3%
79.2%/1.9%
75.9%/2.7%
79.2%/1.3%
75.9%/2.6%
82.5%/1.7%
82.1%/0.8%
Source: Annual School Report Cards - SC Department of Education
The Area’s education picture is mixed. Richland and Lexington Counties both have
higher percentages than the state of population 25 and older that have at least a high
school diploma or a 4 year degree. Fairfield County is lower than the state average in
both categories.
The performance measures of our area High Schools including Fairfield Central High
have generally show steady improvement in on-time graduations and in preventing
dropouts.
This trend mirrors the latest report of the Education and Economic
Development Coordinating Council that South Carolina school’s were doing better at
identifying students who were at risk for dropping out and making appropriate
interventions.
In the same report the Coordinating Council also noted that regardless of grade level or
ethnicity, students have selected Heath Sciences, Science, Technology, Engineering
and Mathematics and Audio-Video technology and Communication as their top three
cluster choices since implementation of the EEDA in the 2007-2008 school year.
During the 2011-2012 school year 50.14% of SC High School Seniors selected the
three clusters.
Midlands Local Area Workforce Report 2013-2014
Midlands Technical College, the first choice among many WIA participants provides
certificates, diplomas and associates degrees in a number of areas that are in demand
by the local labor market. Health Professions (CIP 51000) is by far the most popular
program area accounting for 57.83% of all certificates and 69.37% of all diplomas
awarded in 2011-2012. Health Professions further had the second highest number of
associate degree awarded.
Table 4: Midlands Technical College – 2011-2012 Fiscal Year Graduates
Program
CIP
Certificate
Computers and Information Sciences
Engineering Technologies
Family and Consumer Sciences
Legal Studies
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Multidisciplinary Studies
Science Technologies
Homeland Security/Protective Services
Public Administration
Social Sciences
Construction Trades
Mechanic and Repair Technologies
Precision Production
Visual and Performing Arts
Health Professions
Business Management
Totals
110000
150000
190000
220000
240000
300000
410000
430000
440000
450000
460000
470000
480000
500000
510000
520000
33
60
19
27
3
Source: SC Commission on Higher Education
Midlands Local Area Workforce Report 2013-2014
Diploma
58
39
44
39
426
82
16
1
1
30
148
13
524
31
906
Associates
56
33
34
77
111
4
21
5
7
193
137
1,144
Table 5: PY 13 Monthly Unemployment (Number of Individuals by County)
20000
18000
16000
14000
12000
Fairfield
10000
Lexington
8000
Richland
6000
4000
2000
0
Source: SC Department of Employment and Workforce
Table 6: Age of Workers in Midlands
Midland Workers
14-18
19-21
22-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
65 +
Source: US Census/SC Department of Employment and Workforce
Midlands Local Area Workforce Report 2013-2014
Commuting Patterns
83.8% of the local Area’s workforce lives and works in the Local Area.
Table 7: Top Ten Places Area Residents are Commuting To
County
Kershaw
Newberry
Sumter
Orangeburg
Aiken
Mecklenburg NC
Calhoun
Charleston
Greenville
York
Number
2,134
1,502
1,205
1,127
933
856
732
689
632
578
Source: US 2010 Census
Table 8: Top Ten Places Area Residents are Commuting From
County
Kershaw
Newberry
Orangeburg
Aiken
Sumter
Calhoun
Saluda
Greenville
York
Chester
Number
10,375
4,525
2,861
2,740
2,531
2,297
2,200
775
663
628
Source: US 2010 Census
The local workforce is stable with no foreseeable drastic increases or shortages of
available labor.
Midlands Local Area Workforce Report 2013-2014
II.
Area Employers
Table 9:
Midlands Non-Government Employment by
Accomodation and Food Services
Industry
Admin Support
Arts
Construction
Finance and insurance
Health Care
Information
Manufacturing
Professional and Technical Svcs
Other Services
Real Estate
Retail
Transportation and Warehousing
Wholesale Trade
Source: SC Department of Employment and Workforce
The area’s largest non-government employers in alphabetic order are Blue Cross Blue
Shield of SC, Michelin of North America Inc., Palmetto GBA LLC, Palmetto Health,
Sisters of Charity Providence Hospital, SMX LLC, United Parcel Services and Wal-Mart
Associates Inc. The Impact of small business in the Midlands is substantial in terms of
numbers of establishments. Out of 5,084 establishment in Midlands 70.04% have 9
employees are less and 92.99% have 49 employees or less.
Government and education continue to represent large parts of the economy in
Midlands employing 63,036 individuals.
This places education as the 3rd largest
employing sector and public administration as the 5th in the Midlands area.
Midlands Local Area Workforce Report 2013-2014
III.
Analysis of Trends
Table 10: Midlands SC Projections (Growing Industries Only)
Industry
Wages
$14,942
Projected Change
2010 to 2020
2,949
Annual
Openings
1,154
Accommodation
and Food Service
Admin Support
Construction
Finance and
Insurance
Health Care
Information
Manufacturing
Professional and
Technical
Services
Other Services
Retail Trade
Transportation
and Warehousing
$28,600
$45,812
$61,360
3,385
3,129
1,492
1,889
426
537
$49,140
$56,264
$55,848
$72,228
11,457
146
1,689
3,747
1,367
286
1,086
367
$30,368
$25,272
$41,860
2,688
4,017
1,358
402
1,489
718
Source: SC Department of Employment and Workforce
The US Department of Labor, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Employment and
Training reports that the last recession which economic indicators reveal began in
December 2007 ended in June 2009.
The US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis, reports that since
January 2011, the state has recruited 23,000 manufacturing jobs and an accompanying
$9 billion in capital investment to the state.
South Carolina’s manufacturing gross
domestic product which is the market value of final goods and services produced within
a region grew at 8.5% in 2012 compared to 7.8% for the US. Overall the analysis
released in June 2013, ranked South Carolina’s economy as the 12 th fastest growing in
the nation and tied with North Carolina as the fastest growing on the east coast.
An example of this growth locally is the August announcement by television maker,
Element Electronics that they will open a facility in Winnsboro in the fall of 2013. The
Midlands Local Area Workforce Report 2013-2014
facility is to be located in the old Perry Ellis building and hire 250 initially with the
workforce growing quickly to 500. It is expected that this facility will boost existing area
businesses as well as spurring the creation of spin-offs.
In 2012, iTs│SC, a competiveness initiative of New Carolina released a report on the
insurance technology sector of the area’s economy. This specialized sub-sector of the
local economy makes substantial contributions to the local economy and has vast
potential for growth.
The report says that more than 12,000 local jobs are directly
attributable to insurance technology and or services and pay wages more than twice the
state average. In surveys conducted by iTs│SC for the report, many local employers
reported their desire to bring insurance jobs back to the United States that are now offshored due to costs and quality concerns. The key to growth in this sector is improving
the quantity of skilled workers available to employers.
This represents a potential
opportunity for the Midlands Workforce Development Board and education partners.
In the Midlands the above chart shows that in terms of the number of annual openings
in industry sectors that are growing, Health Care, Manufacturing, Administrative Support
and Transportation and Warehousing, as well as Accommodation and Food Service,
and Retail Trades are strong. As observed in past years the economy of the Midlands
continues to be well balanced among several mature industrial sectors.
Based on the ten year projections, several sectors also look promising for future growth
as the recovery continues and spreads throughout the wider economy. The Central
Midlands Council of Governments reports in the 2012 Building Permit Study for the
Central Midlands Region that 3,637 housing permits were issued in 2012 for the
Columbia Metro Area.
The report which total new housing units approved for
construction from 1975 shows that 2006 was the best year with over 8,875 permits
issued in the Columbia Metro Area which comprises Richland and Lexington counties.
This is a good indicator of potential housing market recovery.
Midlands Local Area Workforce Report 2013-2014
IV.
Adult - Dislocated Worker Strategy
The Workforce Investment Act designates an Adult as an individual who is 18 years of
age or older and is unemployed and seeking work but having difficulty finding work or is
working but earning less than what is required to be self sufficient based on the Lower
Living Standard Income Level (LLSIL) guidelines as published each year in the federal
register.
Dislocated Worker as an individual 18 years of age or older who has been laid off, or
has received a notice of termination or layoff from employment; Is eligible for or has
exhausted unemployment insurance; has demonstrated an appropriate attachment to
the workforce, but not eligible for unemployment insurance and unlikely to return to a
previous industry or occupation; has been terminated or laid off or received notification
of termination or layoff from employment s a result of a permanent closure or substantial
layoff; Is employed at a facility, where the employer has made the general
announcement that the facility will close within a 180 days; was self-employed (including
employment as a farmer, a rancher, or a fisherman) but is unemployed as a result of
general economic conditions in the community or because of a natural disaster; or is a
displaced homemaker who is no longer supported by another family member.
The Workforce Investment Act is funded by program years that begin on July 1 and end
June 30 of the following year. Each state and territory of the US is divided into Local
Workforce Areas designated by the Governor of each state and territory in accordance
with Section 116(a)3 of the Workforce Investment Act. Each Local Workforce Area has
certain program performance measures that must be met during the program year in
order for that Local Area to remain eligible to receive Workforce Investment Act funding.
One performance measures for Midlands Adults in program year 2013 requires that the
individuals who complete the program earn $10,769 for 6 months of average earnings.
This means the successful completer will earn at least $10.36 an hour based on a
standard 40 hour work week. The Midlands Program year 2013 earnings performance
Midlands Local Area Workforce Report 2013-2014
measure for Dislocated Workers is at least $12,000 (or $11.53 an hour) for six months
of earnings.
In order to achieve performance and to make the best possible use of limited workforce
investment act funding, the State Workforce Investment Board requires the Local Areas
in South Carolina to select which industrial sectors of the local economy will be the
target of their efforts in the coming year.
In this Report the Midlands Workforce
Development Board selects targeted industrial clusters and explains the criteria used to
make the selection.
Based on the information from Table 10 above regarding annual openings for growing
industries in the Midlands and the earnings requirements of the Adult and Dislocated
Worker performance measures, the recommendation for target industry clusters in the
Midlands for 2013-2014 are Administrative Support to include certain IT jobs such as
database administration and information support, Manufacturing, Transport and
Logistics and Health Care.
In addition to the data in this report, the selection of these targeted clusters continues
the work of past program years. The Midlands Area has engaged in a multitude of
training initiatives, both regional and sector-based, that have evolved in response to
labor market demand.
The critical need for skilled Maintenance Technicians in advanced manufacturing has
been on the horizon for some years. With the size of the labor pool diminishing due to
retirement, local businesses are fighting for the same candidates or are conducting
exhaustive searches outside of the area. Recognizing this need, Midlands Technical
College has been developing a two-track Maintenance Tech program with input from
local manufacturing employers. This program is set to launch by fall 2013, and is
anticipated to address this growing challenge for the sector.
Midlands Local Area Workforce Report 2013-2014
In response to the growing need of specialized sub-sectors of the local economy such
as insurance technology, the Midlands Workforce Development Board has aggressively
sought out expanded partnerships. MWDB worked with Midlands Technical College in
starting and expanding their Growing Resources for Information Technology (GRIT)
program, designed to provide short term training to increase output of qualified IT job
seekers in the local market. This project is expected to continue through at least June
of 2014.
Another crucial area is qualified commercial drivers under the transportation,
distribution, and logistics cluster. In response to a projected shortage of drivers, the
Midlands Workforce Development Board has partnered with the SC National Guard
(SCNG) in an initiative known as SC Troops to Truckers (T2T). T2T assists veterans in
obtaining a Class-A CDL coupled with employment in a professional driving position.
The initiative is operated by the SCNG and provides veterans a no-cost, short-term
training coupled combined with a mentoring component with the end result of selfsufficient employment in a demand field.
These are just three of the initiatives to move the workforce of the Midlands towards
employment and self sufficiency. The Midlands Workforce Development Board, partner
agencies, and staff continue to be committed to working together for tomorrow’s
workforce.
In support of the SC WorkReady Communities initiative the Board sets a goal of
assessing all Adult and Dislocated Worker participants in the three counties for the
assessments which form the National Career Readiness Credential (NCRC). To be
awarded the NCRC an individual must pass assessments in Applied Mathematics,
Locating Information and Reading for Information.
Of the Adults and Dislocated
Workers assessed 2,500 will earn the NCRC.
As the economy continues to recover and individuals who are long term unemployed
begin to seek work again, the Midlands will be ready to assist with targeted workshops
Midlands Local Area Workforce Report 2013-2014
available at all three of our locations. These workshops will focus on those skills which
aid in re-employment such as resume writing, interview preparation and others. Staff
will continue to seek new partners to facilitate workshops and to expand offerings.
Centers will monitor attendance of workshops conducted and engage customers to
ensure workshops offered meet demand.
V.
Youth Strategy
The Midlands Workforce Development Board’s Youth Council provides services to
youth under the Workforce Investment Act. The focus of the Youth Council for the
coming program year is to:

Develop a method to support front-line staff in the recruitment and program
strategies for engaging the appropriate partners to establish strategies and
tactics, and seamless agency relationships to identify and solicit (interest from)
17+ year old high school seniors "in school" "at-risk" youth for counseling and
mentoring and individual and family support services to transition to the next
phase of workforce development to include entry into post-secondary education,
employment or military service.

Develop a method to support front-line staff in the recruitment and program
strategies for engaging the appropriate partners to establish strategies and
tactics, and seamless agency relationships to identify and solicit (interest from)
17+ year out of school and "at-risk" youth for counseling and mentoring and
individual and family support services to transition to the next phase of workforce
development to include entry into post-secondary education, employment or
military service.
Two factors which the Youth Council have identified as critical to the understanding of
what young people need in the Midlands is the consequences of teen pregnancy and
the continuing problems of youth unemployment.
The good news in South Carolina and the Midlands region is that the decline in teen
pregnancy and high school drop-out rates continued.
Teen pregnancy continued a
decade plus decline and for the fourth straight year high school drop-out rates declined.
Midlands Local Area Workforce Report 2013-2014
However much work remains to be done, the rates of both teen pregnancy and high
school drop-out in South Carolina still exceeds the national rate.
The National
Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy lists in a recent report the
sobering facts. Nearly one third of girls who drop out of high school cite pregnancy as
key reason, only 40 percent of teen moms finish high school and less than 2% of
women who have a child before the age of 18 finish college by age 30.
The recent recession has caused drastic declines in the number of 16-19 year olds who
are employed.
According to data from the Center for Labor Market Studies at
Northeastern University, at 45%, 2000 was the best post World War Two year for youth
employment. Employment for young people ages 16 to 19 declined to 36.8% in 2003
and then down to 35% in 2007.
In 2012, which was the worst year for youth
employment since the Second World War, just 26% of teens were working nationwide.
During the same period, South Carolina ranked 43 rd among the States and District of
Columbia with only 25.6% of teens working.
Summer employment for teens was no better, down from 52% in 2000 to 30%
nationwide in 2012. Unemployed teens tend to be African-American or Hispanic, and 4
out of 5 are from families earning less than $20,000 in pre-tax income, and after
adjustments for normal population variation, are slightly more likely to be female.
In proposing strategies to meet this year’s focus, the Youth Council will seek to link
education to work, by identifying all work experience and training of WIA eligible youth
by appropriate cluster.
75% of all eligible youth who are participating in work
experience will be paired with an employer from one of the Midlands’ targeted industry
clusters.
80% WIA eligible youth will be enrolled in training programs directly
associated with one of the Midlands’ targeted industry clusters. The Youth Council will
also work with youth service providers to ensure that African-American and Hispanic
female teens are not left out of any WIA sponsored summer jobs program.
Midlands Local Area Workforce Report 2013-2014
VI.
Continuous Improvement
Midlands Local Area Workforce Report 2013-2014