September is here. Welcome to Workforce Development Month!
What is Workforce Development Month?
In 2022, Governor Henry McMaster declared September as Workforce Development Month in the state. This month-long observance was developed to showcase the talent of South Carolina's workforce, promote more opportunities to connect jobseekers with employers, and celebrate our industries. This month is also a wonderful time to reflect on the collaborative spirit of key players across the state that help recruit, train, and retain our versatile workforce. Employers and workers across all fields - as well as government bodies, educators, nonprofits, and more - work together to create steady careers for our residents. A healthy and thriving workforce is one that helps grow our economy and supports our families.
DEW is proud to be a cog in that wheel of progress. We are committed to championing workforce initiatives and creating opportunities for workers and employers across our great state. Workforce Development Month celebrates those commitments and the individuals who comprise our workforce. From doctors to scientists, teachers to farmers, and every occupation in-between: These individuals are the unsung heroes of our labor force. This month is all about celebrating SC@Work!
Click here to download our Workforce Development Month Digital Branding Toolkit!
The toolkit is universal and any state agency, business, nonprofit, educator, and community provider can utilize it for their own content. It includes Workforce Development Month logos, social media templates, job flyer templates, wallpapers, web and email headers, and infographics for SC Works and DEW.
What will occur during Workforce Development Month?
This year's Workforce Development Month will be filled with job fairs, hiring events, workshops, training, rural outreach, confe
rences, and many other activities. All types of employers have opportunities to work with DEW and SC Works to help hire the right candidates, develop job fairs and hiring events, create individual employment plans, upskill staff, find tax credits and financial incentives, and more. Nonprofits, educators, and community providers can work with our agency to promote education and training programs, grants, and participate in upcoming job fairs and community events. Jobseekers can work with the experts at SC Works Centers across the state to build their resume, conduct skills assessments, find the right training, search for jobs, and even network with employers on their behalf. Not to mention, there will be multiple job fairs and hiring events in your area! Let DEW and SC Works raise you up to your full potential and help you find your next job!
Click on the below map or bullet points to find events happening in your local area!
• Worklink Events • Greenville Events • Upstate Events • Catawba Events • Upper Savannah Events • Midlands Events
• Santee-Lynches Events • Pee Dee Events • Lowcountry Events • Trident Events • Lower Savannah Events • Waccamaw Events
T
he best thing about the above activities? None of them are exclusive to Workforce Development Month. DEW and SC Works offer these services and events year-round, and are always connecting jobseekers with employers.
Are you looking for education, training, or work opportunities? Want professional growth opportunities? Want a career change? Entering the workforce for the first time? Visit an SC Works Center near you or our virtual engagement center to learn how we can help.
Annual Events
Fourth Annual Workforce Champion Award
Tuesday, September 1, 2026
4 PM - 6 PM
By Invitation Only
We will also announce our 2026 Workforce Honorees and winners of the statewide SC@Work: Photo Contest live during the ceremony.
Three-day Workforce Development and Manufacturing Summit
Monday, August 31, 2026 3:00-7:00 PM
Tuesday, September 1, 2026 - Wednesday, September 2, 2026 8 AM - 5:15 PM
Columbia Convention Center
1101 Lincoln St.
Columbia, SC 29201
United States
Visit the 2026 SC Workforce and Manufacturing Summit to learn more and register.
Coordinating Council for Workforce Development (CCWD) Meeting
Monday, September 21, 2026 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Featured Employer
Beaufort Memorial Hospital
Beaufort County Memorial Hospital provides general healthcare services, as well as specialty care, in both hospital and stand-alone office settings in the Lowcountry. As an employer, they support their workforce by offering an employer-subsidized childcare program, providing career advancement resources, and participating in events, such as the Maritime Job Fair. From exciting entry-level job opportunities to hard-earned next steps in a blossoming career, Beaufort Memorial is dedicated to fostering employees' growth and skills training. They support career development through their PATH program, tuition reimbursement, and more!
Beaufort Memorial Hospital
Careers at Beaufort Memorial Hospital
Employee Benefits at Beaufort Memorial Hospital
Featured Jobseeker Success Story
Achieve Program
Lola Alawode moved to the United States from Nigeria in 2018. Her high school diploma from Nigeria was not recognized in the U.S. so she entered the Achieve Program on November 1, 2018, and earned her GED in just 23 days. Through the Achieve Program, she completed work experience placements at Rosecrest and Magnolia Manor to explore her interest in nursing. While working, she enrolled at Spartanburg Community College, where she earned her associate degree. Lola then made the bold decision to pursue a career in law, transferred to USC Upstate, and completed her degree in Criminal Justice in December 2023. Today, she is enrolled at North Carolina Central University School of Law while gaining valuable hands-on experience through an internship with an attorney in Greenville, SC. She has a strong passion for child advocacy and plans to specialize in family law. Lola remains a dedicated supporter and ambassador of the Achieve Program, encouraging others to pursue their educational and career goals. Lola’s journey is a powerful example of resilience, determination, and the life-changing impact of the Achieve Program.
Achieve USC Upstate Program Overview
Featured Provider
Pee Dee Regional Transit Authority
Pee Dee Regional Transit Authority (PDRTA) understands that reliable transportation is critical to workforce success. PDRTA not only provides employment opportunities within its own organization but also helps thousands of individuals get to work every day. Through partnerships with SC Works and other community organizations, PDRTA demonstrates a commitment to supporting employers, connecting jobseekers with opportunities, and strengthening the workforce across the Pee Dee Region.
Pee Dee Regional Transit Authority
Careers at Pee Dee Regional Transit Authority
Route Maps and Schedules
Workforce Development Month Proclamation
WHEREAS, a vibrant, dynamic economy provides South Carolinians rich opportunities to apply their skills, prosper from their talents, support thriving families, contribute to their communities, and endeavor toward their potential; and
WHEREAS, South Carolina's investment in developing and maintaining its skilled workforce, recognizing potential in South Carolinians of all ages, has been foundational to the state's economic development successes and sustained progress with more South Carolinians employed than ever before; and
WHEREAS, the State Workforce Development Board and the Coordinating Council for Workforce Development continue to lead intensive collaboration and promote innovation among public and private workforce partners across South Carolina; and
WHEREAS, South Carolina's dedication to increased participation in work-based learning, including internships and apprenticeships, and development of in-demand skills among the state's youth ensures a strong workforce today and tomorrow.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Henry Dargan McMaster, Governor of the great State of South Carolina, do hereby proclaim September 2026, as WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT MONTH throughout the state and encourage all South Carolinians to celebrate the Palmetto State's accomplishments in workforce development and honor the workforce development professionals who continuously strive to develop the workforce of the future.