Commerce Announces Recruitment Efforts in 2008
February 15, 2009
COLUMBIA, SC – February 13, 2009 – The South Carolina Department of Commerce and economic development professionals from across the state today reported recruitment efforts in 2008 resulted in companies committing to create 18,993 new jobs and invest $4.1 billion in capital investments.
Commerce’s recruitment efforts over the last three years have been:
2008: $4.1 billion in capital investment and 18,993 jobs
2007: $4.045 billion in capital investment and 15,666 jobs
2006: $3 billion in capital investment and 14,420 jobs
These job recruitment numbers do not include the construction jobs that will be created as these projects are built and come online. Commerce only includes projects it is involved with in its year-end results and when small business growth and projects worked exclusively by regional alliances and local officials are taken into account, capital investment and job recruitment numbers for the state are higher.
Companies committing to invest in South Carolina plan to create new jobs the following industries: manufacturing made up 49 percent of jobs recruited, service 44 percent and distribution seven percent. Specific sector leaders included metal fabrication, high-tech manufacturing, automotive, advanced materials, alternative energy and information services. These jobs are expected to come online in the months and years ahead.
In 2008, the Department of Commerce continued its efforts to recruit jobs to rural areas of the state. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 21 percent of the state’s labor force resides in counties that are not part of a metropolitan statistical area. Last year, more than 22 percent of the jobs recruited by the Department of Commerce went to these counties.
Twenty-six percent of jobs and 44 percent of capital investment recruited to South Carolina in 2008 came from foreign-affiliated companies. Foreign direct investment comprised 5,334 jobs and over $1.8 billion in capital investment last year. According to the BEA (Bureau of Economic Analysis), South Carolina leads the nation in its percentage of workforce employed by companies headquartered abroad.
Significant announcements in 2008 include:
American Titanium Works LLC, Laurens County – $422 million, 320 jobs
BMW, Spartanburg County – $750 million, 500 jobs
Fitesa, Laurens County – $120 million, 80 jobs
Heinz, Florence County – $105 million, 350 jobs
Home Depot, Lexington County – $25 million, 300 jobs
Monster, Florence County – 350 jobs
Osage Bio Energy, Union County – $161.5 million, 75 jobs
Rollcast Energy, Newberry County – $170 million, 27 jobs
Titanium Solutions, Lancaster County – $1.3 million, 400 jobs
URS Corporation, Lancaster County – $6.5 million, 400 jobs
