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Employment

Although known first and foremost for the tourism industry, Charleston has evolved into a city with real corporate and industrial influence throughout the country. In 2003, Charleston received hundreds of millions of dollars in capital investments from new and expanding businesses. More than 50,000 jobs have been created since 1996, with over 1,200 coming last year. The unemployment rate for the area was 4.3% in 2003. The three industries below are responsible for supporting a great deal of the Charleston area workforce.

Charleston Port

The Charleston Port is an attractor for new business and the dominant economic force in the Charleston area. It is the largest container port in the southeast and Gulf States, and is the 4th largest in the country. More than 2,000 cargo ships pass through the Charleston harbor each year.

A recent study conducted for the South Carolina State Ports Authority estimated that there are more than 55,000 port-related jobs in the Charleston region, and over 281,000 in South Carolina. The economic impact in South Carolina is more than $23 billion. With a new port terminal set to open in the near future to build on the five (5) that currently exist, Charleston's relationship with international business will only grow stronger with time.

Military

There are more than 22,000 active-duty and civilian military jobs in the Charleston metropolitan area. The military payroll is about $1 billion, and the resulting annual economic impact is more that $3.3 billion. Military installations include the Nuclear Power Training Command, SPAWAR and the Charleston Air Force Base.

Visitor Industry

Charleston will always rely on its millions of annual visitors to significantly impact the economy. Not only is Charleston a favorite for American tourists, its location makes it extremely accessible to visitors from over seas. 2003 marked the 11th straight year that Conde' Nast Traveler readers from around the world ranked Charleston as one of the top 10 destinations in America. Tourism creates an impact of over $5 billion annually in Charleston, and supports nearly 100,000 jobs.