Why Aiken & Edgefield Counties
Imagine the perfect combination of Old and New South, of modern manufacturing and futuristic research, of thoroughbred racing and modern medicine. Imagine the cutting-edge aspects
of this community already being supported by some of the nation's largest and most advanced manufacturing plants from some of the world's most famous companies-household names
whose products you use every day.
Imagine an area where workers are being given the educational tools that they need to
excel, and then imagine that those workers live in a region where they can reward
themselves for their hard work with affordable homes and an excellent quality of life.
Imagine, if you will, being on the verge of one of the most important discoveries of the
21st century: the discovery of an alternative source of energy that can heat homes, drive
automobiles, lift aircraft into the sky, help hospitals operate, and light up entire cities
without any of the harmful byproducts brought on by our current fossil fuels.
Now imagine a bustling research community of 40,000 scientists and technicians, working
on all of the various applications for this wondrous new energy. Imagine the industries
that can benefit from a power source that is not only as powerful as fossil fuels, but safer
for the environment and easier to obtain: automobile manufacturers, aerospace design
and manufacturing, energy companies, medical technology... the cornerstones of our
country's development.
Imagine that, as a business owner, someone came to you and offered you the
opportunity to join this community at the very beginning.
If you can imagine all of that, then you can imagine what's happening in Aiken and
Edgefield, South Carolina.
LABOR FORCE
Between the precision science of the Savannah River National Laboratory, the skill and
work ethic of the local manufacturing base, and the fresh supply of eager minds from
USC-Aiken, USC-Columbia, Clemson University, and Aiken Technical College, businesses
in Aiken and Edgefield have no shortage of options when hiring for important positions.
According to the 2000 census:
• The city of Aiken was the third-fastest go RVing city in South Carolina.
• Aiken County grew by 17% (significantly above the national average).
• Edgefield County grew by 34% (almost three times the national average).
Leading Edge Workforce
Home to 104,431 employees including more than 1,000 chemical engineers, and with an
additional 171,439 potential employees available from the nearby Aiken-Augusta
metropolitan area, Aiken and Edgefield counties offer a particularly high quality work
force.
The facts:
78,600 eligible workers aged between 20-64 live in Aiken and Edgefield counties.
An additional 240,400 prospective employees are available in the Aiken/Augusta metropolitan
service area (inclusive of Richmond and McDuffie counties in Georgia)
84% of the area's residents are high-school graduates.
21% hold college degrees.
South Carolina is a right-to-work state, permitting companies to set individual salaries without
union intervention.
Only 2% of the Aiken and Edgefield workforce is unionized.
Job Screening and Training
Employers in Aiken and Edgefield have substantial job screening and training advantages:
through the Center for Accelerated Technology Training (CAD), employers can hire a
pre-trained and productive workforce before their first day of operation.
CAD works in conjunction with the South Carolina Employment Security Commission to
recruit, screen, and test in the specific job skills required by each company. This program
has become a national model for matching qualified workers with employers' needs, as
Aiken Technical College's continuing education department works with local industry to
train its existing workers, ATC and USC-Aiken can design training courses to meet a
company's specific needs and processes, and USC-Aiken can also provide a source for
management and professional workers.
Statistics
Here are some important statistics to examine when considering Aiken and Edgefield for
your company's next location:
Aiken per capita personal income
Edgefield per capita personal income
South Carolina per capita personal income
Source: South Carolina 2005 Statistical Abstract
Aiken unemployment
Edgefield unemployment
South Carolina unemployment
Source: South Carolina 2005 Statistical Abstract
$27,350 (2003)
$20,345 (2003)
$26,144 (2003)
6.3% (2004)
6.6% (2004)
6.8% (2004)
additional 171,439 potential employees available from the nearby Aiken-Augusta
metropolitan area, Aiken and Edgefield counties offer a particularly high quality work
force.
Financial Activities $70,670,421.00
Professional and Business Services $875,969,209.00
Education and Health Services $124,054,790.00
Leisure and Hospitality $51,692,216.00
Other Services (Except Public
$21,907,544.00
Administration)
Unclassified $5,572,992.00
Government $247,529,586.00
Total, Private and Government $2,188,943,248.00
EDGEFIELD COUNTY
Industry
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting $13,168,586.00
Construction $4,433,252.00
Manufacturing $44,518,291.00
Wholesale & Retail $23,685,065.00
Transportation & Warehousing $1,323,281.00
Utilities $2,229,964.00
Information $645,868.00
Financial Activities $1,995,483.00
Professional and Business Services $7,855,941.00
Education and Health Services $6,166,738.00
Leisure and Hospitality $5,572,203.00
Other Services $8,041,302.00
Government $56,285,339.00
Total, Private and Government $175,990,279.00
TOTAL EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY, 2002
Construction
Natural Resources and Mining
Manufacturing
Transportation and Warehousing
Whole sale and Retail
Information
Financial Activities
Professional and Business Services
Education and Health Services
Leisure and Hospitality
Source: South Carolina 2005 Statistical Abstract
TOTAL PAYROLL BY INDUSTRY, 2002
AIKEN COUNTY
Natural Resources and Mining $10,853,504.00
Construction $213,348,680.00
Manufacturing $336,634,207.00
Wholesale & Retail $148,481,852.00
Transportation & Warehousing $32,022,456.00
Utilities $17,856,809.00
Information $15,348,984.00
