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.

State Comparisons
  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.

State Comparisons
  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