Greenville’s educational attainment continues to rise

February 4, 2025

New data released by the Lumina Foundation shows that Greenville is making significant progress toward its goal of 60% of working-age adults (25-64 years old) holding a post-secondary credential, certification or degree. The latest numbers indicate that 51.4% of Greenville’s workforce now meet this important career advancement benchmark, up from 50.6% in the previous report.

This growth reflects the collaborative efforts of educational institutions, employers and workforce development organizations to develop 21st-century talent meeting the needs of local businesses.

“Greenville’s continued improvement in educational attainment is essential to advancing economic prosperity for more of our community’s residents,” said Carlos Phillips, President & CEO of the Greenville Chamber. “The latest Lumina Foundation data clearly demonstrates Greenville’s positive momentum in building and upskilling our workforce. We encourage area leaders to continue uniting around this shared vision.”

The Greenville Chamber, through its Accelerate initiative, has been at the forefront of this effort, providing resources, partnerships and programs to support lifelong learning and career advancement opportunities. LaunchGVL is a partnership with Greenville County Schools to provide paid, work-based learning internships to high school juniors and seniors. The TalentRiseGVL program helps working-age adults navigate the process of earning credentials, certifications or degrees that are essential to their career advancement. Greenville County is up 11.8% since 2009 when Lumina Foundation data became available. The Greenville Chamber remains committed to advancing these initiatives.

For more information on how businesses can get involved in efforts to grow a greater Greenville, visit www.greenvillechamber.org.