Education + Workforce

As a right-to-work state with the lowest private-sector unionization rate in the country, South Carolina offers a stable, efficient workforce at competitive wage rates that is free from work stoppages. The Palmetto State boasts one of the nation’s fastest growing labor forces over the past decade, which means a growing supply of skilled technical workers.

South Carolina is committed to growing and developing its world-class aerospace industry workforce. The University of South Carolina (USC) McNair Center for Aerospace Innovation and Research supports the engineering and business needs of the state’s aerospace companies. USC offers a master’s program and undergraduate minor in aerospace engineering, and is developing programs in systems design and engineering management.

Technical colleges in South Carolina offer degree and certificate programs to support the state’s growing aviation industry. Greenville Technical College offers a program in aircraft maintenance technology. Trident Technical College’s aeronautical studies division offers programs in aircraft maintenance, aircraft assembly and avionics maintenance. Horry Georgetown Technical College offers an aviation maintenance program in partnership with the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics. Other technical schools offer courses in manufacturing, electronics, engineering and logistics.