More Job Opportunities than People in OC

Right now, job opportunities are at a premium in Oconee County. There are actually more job opportunities than people to fill them in the county, says Oconee Economic Alliance Executive Director Richard Blackwell. “We’re tremendously blessed that we do have more jobs than we know what to do with right now. Really since 2012, when I started, we have brought in a little over half a billion dollars in new capital investment, that is taxable investment. So, we have increased the tax revenues coming into the county, ushered in a little over 1,500 new jobs and we have record unemployment. The unemployment rate is at 2.7% both for April and May of this year. It hasn’t been this low since April of 1998, so we are at a 20 year low. We have jobs that are still open and looking for people to fill. You can drive down U.S. 123 and see the now hiring signs, no matter if it is retail, restaurants, the hospital, Duke Energy and manufacturers. We’re blessed, we’ve got a lot of opportunities for people to take advantage of and that is what we are focused on is to get people into these jobs, so that they can be successful in whatever career choice they make.” Oconee County is part of one of the nation’s fastest growing areas along the I-85 corridor. With a diversified economic base, Oconee County offers a wide variety of occupational opportunities.