COLUMBIA – The South Carolina Coordinating Council for Workforce Development has completed and approved the inaugural Unified State Plan for Education and Workforce Development. The Unified State Plan provides a systematic approach to streamline the state’s workforce development efforts, identify common goals, and improve efficiencies.
“The Coordinating Council and this Unified State Plan represent the best of South Carolina, where state agencies and various organizations can communicate, collaborate, and cooperate to create meaningful change that meets our state’s workforce needs,” said South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster. “Through the plan, we will bridge the gaps between education, workforce, and economic development to further prepare and train our people to take on the tens of thousands of new jobs being created statewide.”
In January 2023, South Carolina Speaker of the House Murrell Smith introduced legislation, which became the Statewide Education and Workforce Development Act, to streamline workforce activity in South Carolina. One of the top priorities identified by the Act was to get agencies that support education and workforce development as part of their mission to agree on an actionable plan that would serve as the common framework for each organization’s individual initiatives and expertise.
“When the Statewide Education and Workforce Development Act was written, it was easy to envision how it would be transformative for South Carolina. The Unified State Plan is the first step to making that vision a reality,” said House Speaker Murrell Smith. “This plan represents a significant investment in our state’s economic success by laying the foundation for maximizing workforce opportunities and solutions. Its collective approach in addressing the needs of our students, jobseekers, and industries, both now and in the future, reaffirms South Carolina’s position as one of the best places to live, work, and do business.”
The Coordinating Council for Workforce Development has collaborated to create the Unified State Plan over the past year. Meetings to develop the plan began in July 2023 and continued over time to identify key issues, create an initial outline, and determine metrics, all while obtaining feedback from a multitude of stakeholders throughout the process.
These efforts resulted in the Coordinating Council identifying three primary focus areas to address in the Unified State Plan: awareness, skills, and obstacles. Each focus area includes clearly defined goals, strategies, and metrics that will serve as measures of progress. In addition, the plan identifies Priority Occupations and high-value credentials that reflect demand from the state’s booming private sector.
Now that the initial plan exists, the Coordinating Council for Workforce Development will review and revise it as needed on an annual basis. The Coordinating Council’s Metrics Baseline Committee will spend the next year compiling applicable data to develop baselines for the metrics and recommendations for target values.
“It is an honor to serve as the Chairperson of the Coordinating Council for Workforce Development and see how the conversations, ideas, and data have developed into a united vision that reflects the input of the council members, as well as our valued education, nonprofit, business, and government partners,” said South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce Executive Director William Floyd. “The Unified State Plan will serve as a road map that helps align our efforts and direction for our state.”
To read the Unified State Plan and keep up with the activities of the Coordinating Council for Workforce Development, please visit dew.sc.gov/ccwd.
