The Department of Employment and Workforce Closes Out South Carolina’s Fifth Annual Workforce Development Month
The Department of Employment and Workforce Closes Out
South Carolina’s Fifth Annual Workforce Development Month
Columbia, S.C. – Since 2022, Governor Henry McMaster and the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) have partnered together to recognize Workforce Development Month in South Carolina, an annual celebration that highlights the growth of South Carolina’s workforce and the countless resources available through DEW, the SC Works system, and the Coordinating Council for Workforce Development (CCWD) to expand employment and workforce opportunities in the state.
“Workforce Development Month recognizes significant workforce achievements and amplifies the importance of collaboration between public and private industry partners, working together to provide South Carolinians of all ages with the training and support they need to discover the variety of jobs our great state has to offer,” said DEW Executive Director William Floyd. “This month has been our largest celebration yet, and the good news is that we continue to support businesses, strengthen partnerships, and help connect employers with jobseekers all year round.” 
DEW kicked off Workforce Development Month this year with two major events on September 1st, when Lt. Governor Pamela Evette presented the Governor’s Workforce Development Proclamation to Executive Director William Floyd at the Workforce and Manufacturing Summit, and when Governor McMaster, Lt. Governor Evette, and Executive Director Floyd celebrated the Workforce Champion Award honoree at the Governor’s Mansion that evening.
During the Workforce and Manufacturing Summit, held in partnership with South Carolina Manufacturers and Commerce, DEW leadership, workforce professionals, and employers participated in presentations and discussions focused on promising practices to prepare the future of our workforce. Along with reading the Governor’s proclamation, the Lt. Governor moderated a youth employment panel featuring work-based learning success stories from two of South Carolina’s leading manufacturers, American Honda Motor Company and ZF Group.
Later that day at the Workforce Champion Award Ceremony, the 2026 Workforce Champion Award was presented to Savannah River Nuclear Solutions for its extraordinary effort and innovation in connecting educators and students with employment opportunities in South Carolina, including its one-of-a-kind apprenticeships that bridge the gap between rural schools and in-demand occupations in the nuclear industry. Our agency also announced the winners of the 2026 SC@Work Photo Contest this month, including Grand Prize Winner Allegiance Flag Supply, as well as the Small Business, People’s Choice, and four Regional Winners.
DEW hosted and participated in over 200 activities across the state this month, including job fairs, rural outreach initiatives, school functions, workshops, conferences, panel discussions, and other workforce-related events.
“As I mentioned in my op-ed this month, we are fortunate to live and work in a state that has an abundance of career pathways for residents to benefit from, and there is dignity and gains to be had in all lines of work. From pre-K to post-grad, from our most rural areas to our most bustling metropolitan cities, there has never been a better time for residents to find work and build thriving careers. Thank you to the talented DEW staff that made Workforce Development Month a triumph, as well as the many SC Works and CCWD partners investing in our workforce. Thank you to the thousands of jobseekers and hundreds of employers who have participated in our agency’s events this month, taking advantage of opportunities that contribute to life-changing employment, a skilled workforce, and South Carolina's continued economic success,” concluded Floyd.
To learn more about all of the ways DEW provides employer and jobseeker services, and collaborates on education and workforce development strategic efforts through the CCWD, please visit dew.sc.gov, scworks.org, and findyourfuture.sc.gov.
Visit our news page and follow DEW’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube pages to see our latest activities and media releases, and make sure to catch up on the latest episodes of The Works podcast.
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