SC Chamber to Focus on Workforce Pipeline as 2020 Goals Make Progress
January 8, 2015
COLUMBIA, SC – According to the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce, critical needs jobs account for 54% of the workforce while only 28% of people have the necessary skills to fill these jobs, creating a shortage of workers. Critical needs jobs are those that require more education than a high school diploma but less than a four-year degree. These post-secondary education or training requirements can include associate’s degrees, vocational certificates, significant on-the-job training, previous work experience and/or some college.
In 2015, the South Carolina Chamber supports an increased focus on programs to develop a skilled workforce to support existing and new business in South Carolina. Coordination and alignment between education institutions and business is key to developing a statewide plan for workforce development.
The business community will discuss workforce development priorities at Business Speaks at the State House, January 20 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. in Columbia.
2020 Education Goals
In July 2009, the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce’s Excellence in Education Council (EEC) released its 2020 education goals, benchmarks that show strides in the education of all South Carolinians, from pre-K through adulthood. Below is a snapshot of some of those goals and their progress. Still, there’s much more work to do.
For a full list of 2020 Goals and Statuses, visit www.scchamber.net.
Goal: Eighty-five percent of all South Carolina high school students will graduate on time as measured by the US Department of Education’s Uniform Graduation Rate formula.
Status: 2014 on-time graduation rate was 77.5 percent.
Goal: Eighty percent of South Carolina 4 year old at-risk youth (free and reduced lunch) will complete 4K.
Status: In 2006, the South Carolina legislature created the Child Development Education program to provide full-day 4K for high poverty districts. In 2014, as part of the Read to Succeed Act, they expanded the program into 10 additional districts. Currently, 75 percent of all school districts are eligible to serve at-risk children in full-day 4K programs.
Goal: All South Carolina high school seniors will have a WorkKeys® (including soft skills) certificate.
Status: Beginning with the 2014-15 school year already in progress, South Carolina students in grade 11 must take the WorkKeys career readiness assessment.
Goal: 15,000 GED’s (including WorkKeys certification) will be awarded annually in South Carolina.
Status: In 2013-14, adult education credentialing continued its impressive growth rate with the granting of 8,713 GED diplomas, 862 high school diplomas and 10,240 WorkKeys certificates.
Goal: South Carolina will have 10 times more businesses offering registered apprenticeships than the 2009 baseline.
Status: In 2009, the state had less than 190 registered apprenticeship programs and about 1,500 active apprentices. Now, it has 678 apprenticeship programs and 5,446 active apprentices, with the total apprentices served exceeding 10,400.
The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, the nation’s first state chamber Accredited with Distinction by the U.S. Chamber, is South Carolina’s largest statewide broad-based business and industry trade association representing more than 18,000 businesses and more than one million employees. As the unified voice for business and industry, the Chamber is a catalyst for increasing wealth and enhancing the state’s global competitiveness in order to improve the quality of life for all South Carolinians.
