Labor Force and Employment

 

Cherokee County Employment by Sector1

 

Cherokee County Major Employers2

Company Name

Major Product

Employees
Nestle Frozen Food Company Frozen Prepared Food

1,583
The Timken Company Tapered Roller Bearings

1,000
Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. School Bus & Motor Home Chassis
900
Sanders Brothers, Inc. Turnkey Contractor

700
Milliken & Company Magnolia Finishing Plant Dyeing and Finishing Cotton Fabrics

600
Hamrick Mills Print Cloth, Shade Cloth, and Sheeting

431
Hamrick Industries Textile Cutting & Sewing

265
Springfield LLC Broadwoven Fabrics

246
Prime Outlets at Gaffney Factory Outlet Shopping

100 Shops
 

Average Hourly Wages (HW) - Upstate South Carolina3
 
Occupational Title

Min. HW ($)

Avg. HW ($)

Max. HW ($)

Assemblers and Fabricators, except Machine, Electrical,    Electronic, and Pre

7.58

9.03

10.02
Combination Machine Tool Setters and Set-Up Operators, Metal and Plastic

12.32

13.64

14.66
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers, Precision

7.45

8.60

9.65
Electricians

11.65

14.34

16.32
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators

8.58

10.66

12.60
Machine Assemblers

10.07

10.24

11.01
Machine Tool Cutting Operators and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

11.73

11.92

13.06
Machinery Maintenance Mechanics

13.32

15.79

18.04
Machinists

10.42

12.93

15.06
Precision Inspectors, Testers, and Graders

8.47

10.75

12.89
Tool and Die Makers

13.28

15.45

17.82
Truck Drivers, Light, Include Delivery and Route Workers

7.49

9.62

10.97
Welders and Cutters

9.99

12.19

14.48
Welding Machine Operators and Tenders

9.72

11.84

13.80
All Other Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand

6.68

8.01

8.68
       

Cherokee County Employment Labor Force4
 

Civilian Labor Force

Employment

Unemployment

% Unemployment
1990

22,930

21,620

1,130

5.7
1992

23,280

21,590

1,390

6.0
1994

24,010

22,820

1,190

5.0
1996

24,892

23,598

1,294

5.2
1998

25,274

24,391

   883

3.5
2000

26,421

25,158

1,263

4.8
2002 (June)

27,510

25,392

2,118

7.7
 

Cherokee County Employment Labor Force5

Cherokee County Employment Labor Force6

Within a 15 mile radius:

77,637

Males -- 45.6%

Females -- 53.5%

Within a 25 mile radius:

238,772

Males -- 46.5%

Females -- 53.5%
 

Cherokee County Educational Attainment (Ages 16-69)7
 

15 mile radius

25 mile radius
High School Graduates

60.8%

62.7%
1-3 Years of College

30.0%

32.6%
College Graduates and above

11.3%

13.3%

 

1: Source: South Carolina Employment Commission 2000
2: Source: South Carolina Industrial Directory 1999-2000
3: Source: 1999 Occupational Employment and Wages by Substate Regions
4: Source: South Carolina Security Commission 8/02
5: Source: South Carolina Security Commission 1/02
6: Source: Appalachian Council of Government 8/02
7: Source: Appalachian Council of Government 8/02

 

Cherokee County Development Board
101 Campus Drive
Gaffney, SC  29341
cookj@sccsc.edu
864-488-3026