The Challenge: Defining Needs and Solutions for the Evolving Workforce

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Challenge

One of the greatest challenges in developing and maintaining the new economy workforce is the need to constantly evolve, re-tool and refine educational and training options. The rate of change that businesses need to accommodate today is exponentially greater than in the past and that translates directly into the needs of the workforce that supports those businesses. South Carolina's educational rankings, however, indicate many of our citizens may not be positioned to participate in more highly skilled jobs. For instance, South Carolina ranks last in the nation in the percentage of adults over 25 who have a high school diploma. Almost a fifth of South Carolina households in recent years were headed by high school dropouts. Contrast this with national trends that indicate sixty five percent of jobs in the future will require a two-year degree or certificate, yet only 32 percent of our ninth graders will pursue one. Studies of occupational employment trends across the U.S. and the other industrialized nations prove that nothing is consistently more important to economic growth and vitality than an area's human resources. However, employers statewide often face a challenging situation in the availability of workers possessing the skills they need to succeed. South Carolina has a considerable number of adults who are unemployed or underemployed because they lack the foundation and technical skills to perform in the occupational areas identified as significant to the future of the state. In fact in some South Carolina counties, especially along the I-95 corridor and in the Piedmont region, unemployment rates exceed nine percent.

The Next Step: Preparing the Foundation for the Workforce of Tomorrow

To achieve the common goals of economic prosperity and improved quality of life, the SC Technical College System needs partners who are willing to invest in providing opportunities and enhancements that will help the System and the Technical Colleges be truly exceptional. Our traditional sources of funding cannot keep pace with the rising costs in higher education, nor provide us the funds we need to complement targeted economic initiatives in the state with development of new and innovative programs. Private sector funds can provide the margin of excellence in achieving the SCTCS's vision to be the premier provider of educational opportunity and a leading force for the social and economic vitality of the region. As a System, we have identified three primary areas of focus in which support from private partners could help provide more opportunities to develop the workforce our state needs to succeed: Workforce Excellence in Support of Economic Development, Fostering Visionary Leadership, and Quality of Life.