Skills That Work

The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce has conducted four Skills That Work surveys that identified barriers to the availability of a quality workforce. Since the first Skills That Work survey was published in 1998, the findings helped to shape the implementation of Personal Pathways to Success, a series of measures aimed at improving education mandated by the Education and Economic Development Act (EEDA) of 2005.

The three basic questions behind Skills That Work have been:

1. What jobs are you having difficulty filling?
2. What are the specific skills and competencies needed to adequately perform those jobs?
3. How is the K-16 sector (high schools, baccalaureate colleges, technical colleges) doing in preparing South Carolina men and women for entry into the workforce?

The results of all four Skills That Work surveys show that in order to provide our students with the knowledge and skills needed to sustain the workforce and increase per capita income in the state, we must make sure South Carolina education institutions:

• Keep students in school
• Help students develop good character
• Help students to strive for maturity
• Make students aware of business/workforce needs

Use the links below to review each Skills That Work survey results:

• Skills That Work IV (PDF)
• Skills That Work 2003 (PDF)
• Skills That Work 2000 (PDF)
• Skills That Work 1998 (PDF)