Can anyone tell me how the economy is doing in SC (are manufacturing facilities doing well or have there been a lot of closings/job losses?) I may have an opportunity to transfer. It’s got to be doing better than the mess here in Michigan.
I wish I could say all is well down here but it’s not. I just found out that we (SC) have the 3rd highest unemployment rate in the US. It seems like for every new plant being built there is another closing. The manufacturing and distribution company I work for has been going down hill for several years and we currently have ~1/5 the employees and revenue that we had in 2000.
But, if you have a specific job that you are relocating for and the company is solid then there is no reason stay away. If for no other reason than the weather!
If you have anything specific you would like to know then feel free to ask.
EDIT: I just spoke with our HR manager to get her take on the environment. She agrees with what I wrote above but also added that she continually receives calls from recruiters looking for skilled tradesmen. Apparently, there are still companies in the area who are in need of these people. Most, if not all, of the people we have laid off have found jobs.
Thanks! I appreciate it.
As P2 stated, it can be a mixed bag. Can you provide more details as to where the position is, what type of job, etc?
sales rep for large industrial distributor. The company takes its time on transferring employees. I would essentially be calling on manufacturing facilities in a given territory.
Can you say which industry - what do you sell? I am an engineer with a manufacturing background, so I am fairly “in tune” with what is going on in the area.
I sell power transmission products (motors, belts, bearings, cylinders, pumps etc). My primary customers are manufacturing (food, automotive–tier one and two, furniture, oems).
OK, thanks for the info - very helpful.
The manufacturing sectors of SC have stayed fairly strong so far. As you well know, they tend to lag other responses, because orders are already placed. The textile industry is pretty much steady state. The automotive stuff is hurting a little, but still shows concrete investment in the long term (BMW 500 million). Industrial automation has softened, but most are not concerned for long term health as well. The nuclear industry is looking really good in SC/NC and should be a major area of investment.
I think that it will be tight for the next couple of years as the whole economy adjusts, but the area is very well situated to capitalize on being the best area of manufacturing left in the US across several sectors. The nuclear power industry appears to be the big growth area, along with pharmaceutical manufacturing. I do not have a whole lot of info on the food industry, so I am of no particular help there.
The labor stats for SC are really bad. The I-85 corridor is doing very, very well. The piedmont and lowcountry are really feeling the textile exodus to this day. They are slowly recovering, but it may well be several decades to rejuvenate those communities. Schools are pretty good in the Upstate. Most of the rural areas outside of that are very poor and way behind the rest of the country. I do not know about Columbia and Charleston.
We are affected by rcent events, but the Upstate was one of the best places in the US for machine designers in the US until November. It still may be comparated to everyone else, but it is down. I imagine that the long term prospects are better here than in MI, but I dont have concrete info to back that up - just industry reports, etc.
Jamie summed it up nicely, better than I could have.
I suppose it depends on your territory. If Columbia is your home base but the entire state is your territory then I think that would be enough coverage to have diversity of customers/markets.
My company is in the food equipment manufacturing business. As mentioned earlier, we are in a downturn but that is mostly due to poor corporate management. Many of our competitors, some in the same area, are doing fine.
Here is a link to a recent thread that has some more info on Columbia.
That’s some really good insight. Not to mention tremendously helpful. Thank you both for your input!!
Thank you both
????
No, it is: “Thanks y’all”
Go ahead and start getting used to it. 
Just don’t smoke any pot when you get there!