Economic investment is shifting in South Carolina

South Carolina continues to attract significant economic investment, receiving nearly $50 billion since 2018 from both domestic and foreign companies.
The industries driving investment have shifted in recent years. From 2018–2024, automotive led the state, accounting for more than 41% of investment as South Carolina strengthened its role as an automotive manufacturing hub. Since 2025, IT and software development have made up more than 67% of investment, fueled by growth in data centers and AI from NorthMark, Cielo, and others, while automotive was down to 10%.
Looking ahead, South Carolina remains well positioned to attract a diverse range of investments. Despite potential constraints on data-related spending, the state is poised to compete for economic capital across multiple industries.

May 27, 2026

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