Staff Report
Published Oct. 20, 2009

Industrial employment in South Carolina fell 10.2% over the past two years, according to the 2010 S.C. Manufacturers Register, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers’ News Inc. in Evanston, Ill.

The reports shows that South Carolina lost 30,382 manufacturing jobs in the past two years, with 24,393 jobs lost between August 2007 and August 2008 and 5,989 industrial jobs from August 2008 to August of this year.

Manufacturers’ News reports that South Carolina is home to 5,169 manufacturers now employing 271,676 workers, compared with a high of 385,000 industrial workers in 1994. The loss of nearly 25,000 manufacturing jobs over the past year marks the sharpest decline in the 14 years Manufacturers’ News has been tracking the state’s industry.

“As with the entire nation, the recession continues to hit South Carolina’s core sectors, particularly the textile/apparel industries, while the faltering housing market has affected industries such as wood products, furniture and building products,” says Tom Dubin, president of the database and directory publishing company.

Employment in the lumber and wood sector saw one of the sharpest declines, down 16.6% over the past 24 months, and employment in furniture and fixtures saw a 16% drop.

South Carolina’s top manufacturing sector remains industrial machinery and equipment, with 37,287 of the state’s industrial jobs, and was the only sector to gain jobs, up 5.3% over the past 24 months.

Second-ranked textiles and apparel saw the biggest drop in employment, down 26% after plant closures at Hanesbrands, Renfro Corp., Blair Mills and Mohawk Industries. Textiles and apparel currently accounts for 30,546 of South Carolina’s industrial jobs.

Third-ranked transportation equipment saw a modest loss, down 3.6%, and accounts for 26,996 industrial jobs.

Other sectors in South Carolina that lost jobs within the past two years:

Despite the losses, some bright spots have emerged recently, including the opening of window and door manufacturer Force V Environmental in Laurens County, the planned opening of the American Titanium Works facility, which will manufacture titanium plates — also in Laurens County — and the addition of 700 temporary workers at BMW Manufacturing’s Greer plant.

According to the Manufacturers’ News directory, the northwest region of the state accounts for the largest share of South Carolina’s industrial employment, with 167,535 manufacturing jobs, down 8.3% over the past 24 months. The northeast region ranks second, with 52,155 manufacturing jobs, down 17.8% over two years. The southeast part of the state is home to 30,093 industrial jobs, down 4.4%, and the southwest is home to 21,893 jobs, down 10.1%.