Interesting Business Facts For Charleston, South Carolina

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The workforce of Greater Charleston is now approaching 300,000 people and grows by the day with an influx of new residents and businesses.

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Tourism continues to generate the most economic input for our area.  The Charleston region welcomes more than 4 million visitors every year!

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The military still plays a major role in our economy despite the fact that the 1996 Naval Base closure generated an immediate loss of almost 15,000 jobs.

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Although the port of Charleston experienced a double-digit decrease in container volume in 2007, that segment of our economy ranks third in local economic impact behind tourism and the military.

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Besides jobs generated by all levels of government, more people earn their wages/salary in retail than any other business segment of our local economy.  Among Greater Charleston's largest retail employers, Wal-Mart and Piggly-Wiggly help lead the way.

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The largest single employer after the US Navy is the Medical University of South Carolina.  Roper St. Francis and Trident Health System also make the list of top leading local employers.

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More than 10,000 people are employed by our tri-county school districts in a wide variety of capacities.

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Daniel Island is now home to two of Charleston's largest and most dynamic high-tech firms, Blackbaud and Benefitfocus.

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Approximately 70 local firms are owned by parent companies from outside the US, including Charleston's largest internationally owned employer and largest manufacturer, Robert Bosch (Germany).

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Companies placing their corporate headquarters in the Greater Charleston area have doubled over the last decade.