Employment and Workforce Executive Director William Floyd’s Statement
May 2023 Employment Situation
Columbia, S.C. – “The number of people working in South Carolina is higher than ever before, growing in May by more than 14,000 individuals to hit another record of 2,344,922, and the unemployment rate held steady at 3.1%,” said S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) Executive Director William Floyd. “When compared with the national unemployment rate that went up from 3.4% in April to 3.7% in May, you really get a sense of the state’s current strength.”
“The ongoing expansion of our labor force is definitely encouraging news and helps support South Carolina’s businesses,” continued Floyd. “Even more employees are needed, so every day DEW focuses on workforce development and connects jobseekers with great jobs in our growing economy. For example, in July our SC@Work: Road Trips will focus on Union, Chester, and Fairfield counties as part of our rural workforce initiative. This initiative puts DEW and our community partners in the heart of the areas of our state that sometimes face significant barriers to employment and allows us to personally offer services, assistance, and direct connection with local employers.”
“With our state’s average hourly earnings continuing to hover above $29.00 an hour, now is the time for even more jobseekers to join the workforce. For those with the commitment, training, or experience, there are thousands of opportunities to begin career paths with long-term advancement and success. No matter where people are in their work search journey or whether a business needs one or hundreds of employees, our agency has the resources and services to help,” concluded Floyd.
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The S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce is putting South Carolinians to work. The agency has four missions: (1) workforce development; (2) free job match employment services; (3) unemployment insurance; and (4) labor market information. All four missions contribute to workforce development. The agency is dedicated to advancing South Carolina through services and programs that meet the needs of our businesses, job seekers and those looking to advance their careers.
More Jobs:
Lima One Capital expanding U.S. headquarters in Greenville County
$51.4 million investment will create approximately 300 new jobs
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Lima One Capital, one of the nation’s premier lenders for real estate investors, today announced plans to expand its U.S. headquarters in Greenville County. The company’s $51.4 million investment will create approximately 300 new jobs.
Founded in 2010, Lima One Capital has funded over $7 billion in loans for real estate investors who are building, improving and stabilizing neighborhoods across the nation. The company’s core products include bridge loans, rental property and portfolio loans, new construction loans and multifamily bridge lending. Utilizing industry-leading technology, Lima One Capital relies on in-house underwriting, construction management and servicing teams to deliver unparalleled customer service.
The company’s current operations are located at 201 East McBee Avenue, Suite 300 in Greenville. As part of the expansion, Lima One Capital will lease approximately 65,000 square feet in a newly constructed building in the County Square development in Greenville. This new facility will more than double Lima One Capital’s office space, allowing the company to continue its rapid growth, attract talent to Greenville and deliver its industry-leading customer experience. The company also has an operations center in Irvine, California.
The expansion is expected to be complete by 2025. Individuals interested in joining the Lima One Capital team should visit the company’s careers page.
The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to the project. The council also awarded a $500,000 Set-Aside grant to Greenville County to assist with the costs of site preparation and building construction.
QUOTES
“Lima One Capital is thrilled to be an anchor tenant within the state-of-the-art County Square development in downtown Greenville. This significant milestone highlights our continued commitment to the growth and prosperity of Greenville. This beautiful office space will provide our team with an amazing work environment that aligns with our award-winning culture and will serve as a catalyst to our continued national expansion and success.” -Lima One Capital President and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Tennyson
“Greenville County has proven to be the right location for Lima One Capital to grow its headquarters operations. This investment is a win for the state, and we are always pleased for existing industry to grow within South Carolina.” -Gov. Henry McMaster
“Lima One Capital’s decision to expand in Greenville County is evidence that South Carolina’s business environment supports the ongoing success of corporate headquarters. We congratulate the company and look forward to the opportunities these approximately 300 new jobs represent.”-Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III
“Lima One Capital has been an excellent, long-term contributor to Greenville County since its founding over 10 years ago. Lima One Capital's expanded commitment to Greenville and this prominent location for its headquarters in our new County Square development further affirms the work we've done to create proper soil conditions for businesses to succeed and thrive here.” -Greenville County Council Chair and Greenville Area Development Corporation Board Member Dan Tripp
“We congratulate Lima One Capital on their announcement of making the city of Greenville home to their corporate headquarters. Lima One Capital's focus on ‘building and improving neighborhoods’ runs parallel to Greenville City Council priorities of affordable housing, open space, public safety and economic development. We look forward to seeing their positive impact on homeownership in the community." -City of Greenville Mayor Knox White
Sage Parts Plus, Inc. establishing new global headquarters and distribution operations in Greenville County
$1.7 million investment will create 73 new jobs
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Sage Parts Plus, Inc. (Sage Parts), a global aviation parts supplier, today announced plans to open its new global headquarters and distribution operations in Greenville County. The company’s $1.7 million investment will create 73 new jobs.
Sage Parts is a world market leader in replacement parts for aviation ground support equipment (GSE). From prominent, international air carriers to smaller, regional airlines, the company’s wide range of customers also includes freight carriers; package and ground handling companies; GSE service and maintenance companies; military services; GSE manufacturers; and parts resellers. Sage Parts, an Alvest group company, has one of the most extensive distribution networks in the GSE marketplace, ensuring the fastest possible delivery of GSE parts to its customers, with strategically located warehousing facilities near airports worldwide.
With this move to Fox Hill Business Park in Fountain Inn, Sage Parts’ Greenville County facility marks its first South Carolina operations. Sage Parts leased a 103,049-square-foot building to accommodate its new global headquarters and distribution operations.
Operations began in May 2023. Individuals interested in joining the Sage Parts team should visit the company’s careers page.
The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to this project. The council also awarded a $100,000 Set-Aside grant to Greenville County to assist with the costs of building improvements.
QUOTES
“Sage Parts is very excited to open this new state-of-the-art facility to service our global customer base. After an exhaustive national search, we landed in Greenville County, S.C. for its business-friendly environment, expanding and talented workforce, and high quality of life for our people.” -Sage Parts Plus, Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Christopher Pratt
“We are proud to add another world-class company to our roster as the aerospace industry continues to help drive our economy forward. Congratulations to Sage Parts on opening their new global headquarters in Greenville County.” -Gov. Henry McMaster
“South Carolina is home to a dynamic aerospace industry, and Sage Parts’ new headquarters and distribution operations in Greenville County underscore the strength of our competitive business environment and highly skilled workforce. We look forward to creating a long-lasting partnership with Sage Parts for years to come.”-Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III
“It’s exciting to see an international organization choose Greenville County for their new headquarters and to grow and expand from, as it proves that we have provided the pro-business environment, top talent and industry expertise for them to flourish here. We salute Sage Parts for their decision to make Greenville County their new home and wish them continued success.”-Greenville County Council Chair and Greenville Area Development Corporation Board Member Dan Tripp
“Fountain Inn prides itself on providing an exceptional balance of a vibrant business community and an ideal place to live, work and raise a family, and we are delighted to become the new headquarters for Sage Parts. Fountain Inn offers a young, diverse and educated workforce to help Sage Parts grow and prosper, and we are excited to welcome Sage Parts home to Fountain Inn.”-Mayor of Fountain Inn GP McLeer
