South Carolina’s Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network (WREN) unveils Economic Study on Women in the Workforce

April 28, 2017

WREN, Women’s Rights & Empowerment Network, recently unveiled Moore Business School Economic Study on Women in the South Carolina Workforce.

The release of the report comes on the heels of “WREN Summit 2017: Women in the Workforce,” where Dr. Joseph C. Von Nessen, Research Economist with University of South Carolina’s Moore School of Business gave an overview on his report, Solving SC’s Labor Shortage: The Economic Impact of Increasing Women’s Participation in the Workforce.

In the next decade, South Carolina will need as many as 26,140 additional workers per year. According to Dr. Von Nessen’s report, if women help fill those positions, increasing their overall presence in our state’s workforce from 48.3 percent currently to 54 percent by 2025, it could generate unprecedented opportunities for our state such as:

  • $5.2 billion in new annual statewide economic activity;
  • 8% reduction in male and female pay gap;
  • 61,000 jobs supported; and
  • $2.9 billion in labor income.

The report, in conjunction with WREN’s education and outreach efforts, will be a catalyst for accelerating women’s economic participation and our state’s economic growth.

The full report can be read at scwren.org.