Jobs

     

     

    “Employers do not use SCDEW/SCWORKS job postings/business services that are available to them free of charge—business taxes are already paying for the services, so why not use them?”

     

    Participants had a lot to say about employment in Pickens County—and how it is impacted by housing costs, transportation, and the roads. But with plenty of open land for economic development, higher education institutions, and a location just off of the I-85 Char-Lanta corridor, there is plenty of reason for optimism, too.

     

     

    Strengths and Opportunities

    • Business/ community leaders are solution focused
    • Centered in the Char-lanta economic region
    • Commerce park
    • Commerce Park has many businesses at one location. Great spot for a bus stop
    • Conservatives
    • Corporations moving in
    • Doodle Trail—forward-thinking initiatives to attract families
    • Downtown events and growing vibrancy
    • Feels like a positive culture
    • Friendly
    • Growth
    • Industrial park
    • International business influence
    • Jobs, growth at industrial park
    • Lakes and recreation
    • Land opportunities for economic growth
    • National attention due to success of Clemson—need to capitalize with appropriate professionally produced message
    • Open land
    • Opportunities for faith and worship
    • Overall pleasant people
    • Quality of life
    • Rural
    • Schools are focused on training people for life skills to be successful even outside the classroom
    • Such a positive thing to be here with higher education well represented in Pickens! Push and market this as THE county that is using the higher ed engine to grow!

    Threats and Weaknesses

    • Access to jobs paying living wages limited for those without transportation
    • Affordable housing
    • Affordable housing is needed for people who want to live on a safe area but cannot afford more than $600/monthly
    • Better retention of college students through career opportunities
    • Better transportation across county lines
    • Better utilize the great resource we have at the Pickens County career and center for workforce training to attract new companies
    • Companies should use staffing agencies less
    • Competing jobs/employers in surrounding counties with much better benefits
    • County has not kept up with “Best is the Standard” position
    • Diversity—need more virtual opportunities. More entrepreneurs. Engage young people.
    • Few transportation options for low-income and elderly to reach their job destination, medical appointments and grocery/retail stores
    • Funding and/or volunteers to mentor others from their own personal experience
    • Get what you focus on, so focus on moving forward  and helping others
    • High housing/ rental cost
    • High number of lower paying or entry-level jobs, paired with limited public transit to other areas (regional) where higher-paying jobs are available limits growth of upper-end real estate development.
    • High-paying jobs are not in Pickens County
    • Housing
    • Inadequate highways/roads
    • Increase wages
    • Jobs are in service areas, manufacturing, small businesses. Need to promote universities to push entrepreneurial growth for small businesses.
    • Lack of affordable child care
    • Lack of opportunity
    • Lack of planning
    • Lack of public transportation in Easley and Pickens/Liberty
    • Lack of representation from a unified group of varying business entities to achieve goal attainment
    • Limited high tech/science /engineering jobs
    • Many low income people in Easley lack transportation
    • Need affordable housing, single-occupancy rooms, transportation to commerce centers
    • Need more connection—transportation
    • Need more housing
    • Need to promote
    • Need to recruit more knowledge-based jobs other than closing U.S. based manufacturing
    • Need transportation connecting smaller communities
    • No housing
    • No interstate
    • No transportation (mass)
    • Perceived low wages at present businesses
    • Perception that our residents will work low wages
    • Push entrepreneurial small businesses
    • Size of existing qualified workforce for high-tech manufacturing
    • Systemic poverty fueled by lack of affordable housing
    • Transport to jobs between county lines
    • Transportation has limited hours
    • Transportation is needed between Clemson and Greenville
    • Unwillingness to take risks or raise funds
    • Workers do not work a standard 8-5 or 9-5—need to consider different schedules and overtime work
    • Workforce training to attract new companies