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As the largest city in the state, Columbia is at the
heart of a four-county region projected to grow to more than 625,000 people
by the year 2010.
It's one of the hottest markets in the South, ranking third last year
in the large market category for top 100 announcements, according to Southern
Business & Development magazine.
State and local governments join together to support business through
low taxes, available tax credits, and a commitment to help existing companies
prosper and grow.
Workforce
Manufacturing wages in the state are the fifth lowest in the nation and
fringe benefits are 13 percent below the national average South Carolina
is a right-to-work state, which has contributed to high productivity levels,
a 0.01% work-stoppage rate and 2.2% unionization rate With a regional
labor force in excess of 271,000 in 1994, the unemployment rate was 4.8%
The greatest growth in the work force is occurring in the 20-40 age group,
reflecting an increasing pool of prime-working age employees
Largest Employers
Public Sector
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State Government
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33,147
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Local Government
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24,500
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Fort Jackson
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18,802
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Federal Government
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8,256
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University of South Carolina
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4,500
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Private Sector
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South Carolina Electric and Gas
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4,000
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Richland Memorial Hospital
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4,000
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Blue Cross and Blue Shield of SC
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3,000
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Policy Management Systems Corp.
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2,200
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BellSouth
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1,900
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NationsBank of South Carolina
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1,900
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Baptist Medical Center
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1,812
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Wachovia Bank of South Carolina
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1,800
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Louis Rich
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1,500
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Allied Fibers
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1,322
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Atlantic Soft Drink (Pepsi)
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1,300
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Providence Hospital
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1,200
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Carolina Eastman
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1,176
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Westinghouse Electric
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1,118
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Colonial Life & Accident Insurance
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1,019
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AT & T Global Information Systems
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952
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Michelin Tire
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800
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