From The Director's Desk:
David Swenson, Director of York County Economic Development 

York County continues to demonstrate a strong and robust economy as new and expanding companies continue to add jobs and investment. Each year our agency surveys local manufacturing firms to see how they did in the previous year.

Based on the 2016 survey results, more than 25 existing firms made $16.4 million in new capital investment and created over 171 new jobs. Many of the companies surveyed indicated that over the next 12 to 18 months they plan to grow, creating new jobs or adding machinery, equipment or other expansions to existing facilities. Important to their success will be the support of our economic development team in making sure our market can provide the available and skilled workforce that can match their needs.

Fortunately, we have some new market data on our workforce that will help us to support these efforts. Last month the SC I-77 Alliance completed a workforce study of the four county I-77 area and the surrounding labor sheds. Key findings by the consultants who studied the I-77 Corridor concluded that the region has an expansive laborshed of 2.4 million people. The market shows well as a location destination that both attracts and retains educated young talent.

In addition, the data also indicates a strong middle-skilled workforce across the area. This data reflected in the diversity and strength of our manufacturing and growing healthcare sectors. Furthermore, the region demonstrates very affordable labor costs, a robust network of education and training resources, and ample access to veterans joining the workforce at the rate of 800 per year from Fort Jackson.

With all this positive data and analysis we will continue to demonstrate to existing companies and new firms coming to York County, that we are a part of a strong region that has much to offer in regards to workforce. We will be watching closely those challenges that the report highlighted. These areas include the tightening of the overall labor market, the continued demand for more workers, the employability of new and existing workers, as well as the impact that the aging workforce will have on area firms.

Our new website is an excellent resource if you are interested in seeing the information on our region's workforce as well as other crucial data elements. We know that informed decisions come from access to good data, and that is what this website provides. Visit, and find out more on why York County is —The Location You Need. The Life You Want.