| Recreation Lakes Marion and Moultrie in Berkeley County have earned world-wide fame as a paradise for sports and recreation enthusiasts. Especially known for the 171,000 acres of fresh water fishing, the lakes have been the site of three world record and eight state record catches. Other facilities available to enjoy include the Francis Marion National Forest, the Palmetto Trail, parks, campgrounds, gardens, marinas, golf
courses, tennis courts and wildlife sanctuaries. You may review our Recreation Section for more details. Back to Berkeley County Facts Index Labor Force
Berkeley County Labor Force
| 1987 | 1991 | 1995 | Annual Avg Change 87 - 95 | Civilian Labor Force | 52,200 | 55,110 | 60,180 | 1.9% | Employment | 50,090 | 52,530 | 57,720 | 1.9% | Unemployment (#) | 2,110 | 2,580 | 24,60 | 2.1% | Unemployment ( %) | 7.5% | 4.7% | 4.1% | -- |
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Source: SC Employment Security Commission (1995) Top 15 Manufacturing Facilities by Employees
Firm Name | Employees | Product Description | Bayer Corporation | 1,006 | Dyes, pigments, chemicals | Alumax of SC, Inc. | 625 | Aluminum Ingots | Detyens Shipyard, Inc. | 450 | Ship building and repair | Du Pont de Nemours, E.I. & Co. | 450 | Dacron polyester fiber | C.R. Bard, Inc. |
435 | Catheters | Gates Rubber Co. | 370 | Automotive Belts, Hoses | Georgia Pacific Corp -
Plywood Division | 359 | Lumber and wood products | JW Aluminium | 355 | Foil, sheet products | Amoco Chemical Co. | 330 | Purified terephthalic acid | Albany International -
Press Fabrics Division | 300 | Paper Machine felts | Westvaco Corp - Timberlands Division | 250 | Kraft paper, chemicals, lumber, etc | Nucor Steel | 210 | Steel Minimill | Prouvost USA | 195 | Lanolin by-product | Industrial Acoustics Co of SC, Inc | 182 | Noise control equipment |
Sasib Beverage & Food | 173 | Scaffold and Bottling Equip. | Total | 5,690 | |
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Source: Center for Business Research, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce (1996)
Other Major Employers by Employees
Employer Name | Employees | Product or Service | Berkeley County School | 2,977 | Public Education | Santee Cooper | 1,753 | Utility | Berkeley County Government | 619 | Local Government | Williams Technologies | 410 | Remanufacture Auto Transmissions |
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Source: Berkeley Chamber of Commerce Foreign-Owned Firms
Employer Name | Employees | Company/Country | Auto Safety Glass | 50 | PGSI Group, South Africa | Bayer Corporation | 1,006 | Bayer AG, Germany | Prouvost USA | 134 |
Chargeurs SA, France | Sasib Beverage & Food North America | 173 | Sasib SpA, Italy |
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Source: Center for Business Research, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce Average Hourly Wage Rates
Charleston Metro Region Managerial & Administrative: | Min
| Avg | Max | Industrial Production Managers | $12.98 | $25.65 | $45.00 | Personnel / Labor Relations Managers | 7.50 |
20.13 | 36.26 | Purchasing Managers | 8.00 | 19.42 | 31.92 | Professional / Technical: | | | | Chemical Technicians and Technologists | 14.05 | 16.99 | 19.27 | Computer Programmers | 9.00 | 15.59 | 22.28 | Electricial & Electronic Technicians |
10.75 | 16.08 | 16.86 | Industrial Engineers | 22.11 | 23.02 | 23.94 | Administrative / Office: | | |
| Bookkeeping / Accounting Clerks | 6.50 | 9.77 | 14.10 | General Office Clerks | 6.00 | 8.27 | 9.75 | Secretaries | 5.50 | 9.68 | 14.14 | Production: | | | | Assemblers and Fabricators | 6.15 | 10.07 | 11.30 |
Chemical Equipment Controllers & Operators | 15.15 | 15.89 | 16.90 | Electricians | 7.96 | 14.12 | 19.03 | Hand Packers & Packagers | 4.40 |
7.00 | 9.27 | Machine Feeders & Offbearers | 6.00 | 8.09 | 9.68 | Machinery Maintenance Mechanics | 11.00 | 14.72 | 18.61 | Machinists | 10.00 | 11.27 | 15.97 | Tool & Die Makers | 11.93 | 16.02 | 17.19 | Welders & Cutters | 10.00 | 10.47 | 11.60 |
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Source: SC Employment Security Commission (1995)Back to Berkeley County Facts Index
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