BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C.–Governor Nikki Haley joined with South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) Director Lillian Koller in recognition of the 18,000 South Carolinians who have transitioned from welfare to work since 2011.
CR Bard in Moncks Corner is one of hundreds of companies in South Carolina which have hired former welfare recipients.
“From the start, getting South Carolinians off welfare and back to work wasn’t about keeping compliance officers in Washington, D.C. happy – it was about getting our citizens back to work,” said Gov. Nikki Haley.
During a news conference in Columbia, Haley gave Koller credit for helping those in need of job placement.
“We want to acknowledge these businesses for being smart by taking advantage of this opportunity to help themselves while helping families get out of poverty,” said DSS State Director Lillian Koller. “Parents are working and supporting their children and children are growing up with the example of working parents. DSS is incredibly proud of the outcomes we’ve achieved in welfare-to-work.”
From larger companies like Wal-Mart and Lowes, to smaller companies in Berkeley County like Moncks Corner Dry Cleaners and Malcolm Lampkin’s Lawn Service, a diverse group of employers have taken advantage of this
workforce and created successful outcomes for their businesses, their employees, and their local communities.
To view a complete list of the employers in Berkeley County, please go here: https://dss.sc.gov/hires-dss.pdf
Background:
·Since September 2011, 18,000 South Carolinians on public assistance have gotten jobs.
·The average job retention rate for former welfare recipients in South Carolina is now 94%.
·Of the recipients who left welfare with a job, 78% were on welfare for 12 months or less.
·Number of welfare recipients finding work is now 60% higher than it was before DSS started its jobs initiative.
·Welfare recipients in South Carolina typically get jobs that pay higher than minimum wage, averaging close to $9.00 an hour.
