Resource Guide DIVERSITY COUNCIL Cynthia Walters, Corporate Director of Inclusion, Palmetto Health, Diversity Council Chairman
The mission of the South Carolina Diversity Council is to encourage, support and educate employers as they seek to value and strengthen diversity in the workplace.
S.C. CONTINUES TO MAKE PROGRESS IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT Steve Nail, Dean, College of Business, Anderson University Chair, HR Committee With a State unemployment rate of only 4.4 percent, having a qualified ready workforce is of utmost importance to the continued growth of business and the average income of its workforce. Gov. Nikki Haley recently announced that every county in the State has received certification through the South Carolina Work Ready Communities (SCWRC) initiative, making South Carolina the first state in the nation to become fully certified as work ready. All 46 counties have met the specified workforce and education goals. This is a commendable achievement for South Carolina. In early 2016, the business community successfully pushed for passage of H. 4145, which establishes a Workforce Development Coordinating Council (WDCC) to continuously assess statewide needs and recommend programmatic changes to improve outcomes in workforce development, prepare for emerging workforce needs and increase access to training and certification. The newly constituted council is made up of representatives from state agencies responsible for education, training and recruitment of industry, as wellas a representative of the business community designated by the SC Chamber. The WDCC’s success in coordination of government, education and business workforce development efforts will be vital in closing the “middle-skilled” workers gap in the State. This gap is defined as those jobs requiring education and training beyond high school but less than a four-year degree. Such jobs account for 45 percent of all available jobs, while only 29 percent of available workers meet the middle-skilled hiring criteria. “Middle Skilled” jobs’ salaries are competitive, often ranging from $40,000 to over $100,000. While South Carolina has a lot to be proud of in the area of workforce development, there is still work to be done.
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Workforce & Jobs Report
The Diversity Council achieves its goals by: • Educating members through structured, quarterly (or more frequent) meetings on topics related to diversity • Encouraging open and honest discussion among business leaders • Providing communication channels between key community and business organizations • Supporting membership as they seek to strengthen themselves through professional development in the area of diversity awareness and training • Providing high quality, dynamic, and responsive programs and services to businesses
MANUFACTURERS ARE GROWING, BUT CAN’T DO IT ALONE Dan Sanders,VP, General Counsel & Secretary, Michelin North America, Inc. Chair, Manufacturer’s Steering Committee The state of manufacturing is strong in South Carolina. The past year brought significant expansion of our state’s existing manufacturing base and the addition of several major new firms. Manufacturers continue to see South Carolina as a great place to do business given our fantastic port, accessible interstate system, wonderful climate, and dependable workforce. Another major factor is our low unionization rate. In 2016, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that South Carolina is now the least unionized state in the nation, with only 2.1 percent of wage and salary workers belonging to a union. Not only is this rate significantly lower than the national average of 11.1 percent, we have now surpassed our neighboring states in this arena, further demonstrating South Carolina’s commitment to creating a positive climate for growth in the manufacturing sector. This manufacturing growth, coupled with the retirement of baby boomers, has created the need to strengthen the state’s talent pipeline. The Manufacturers’ Steering Committee remains committed to closing the skills gap through technical and vocational training, apprenticeship opportunities, and incentives for the cultivation of high-demand skills. Crucial to this endeavor is the statewide coordination of workforce development efforts, and the business community applauds the 2016 passage of H. 4145, which created the Workforce Development Coordinating Council. Moving forward, the Manufacturers’ Steering Committee looks forward to continuing to assess and advocate for policies to develop a strong in-state talent pool, promote manufacturing opportunities, and keep our state an outstanding place to do business.
12%
OF SOUTH CAROLINIANS ARE EMPLOYED BY THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR
*Info courtesty of South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance