South Carolina Economists on 2017 Outlook

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – Two South Carolina economic experts are predicting the state will prove to be a strong economic engine for new jobs and larger incomes in the coming year.

On Thursday, University of South Carolina economists Doug Woodward and Joseph Van Nessen issued their annual predictions for the state’s economy in 2017.

Woodward and Van Nessen say they expect the numbers of jobs to increase, and they predict most sectors of the industry will stay strong.
However, the two see a major cloud on the horizon. Although unemployment has dropped to 4.7 percent, they say employers are struggling to find qualified workers.

Woodward and Van Nessen say the state must address this critical skills gap that keeps many workers from being hired in order for growth to continue.