How H.3211 Supports the Skilled Trades Workforce
South Carolina is booming. New residents are arriving every day, businesses are expanding, and construction crews are working overtime to meet the demand for housing, schools, and infrastructure. But there’s a problem: there aren’t enough skilled workers to keep up with the state’s rapid growth.
The need for electricians, plumbers, and carpenters has never been greater. South Carolina’s construction industry alone employs more than 77,000 workers1, and demand is only increasing. But while businesses are eager to hire, outdated licensing laws are keeping qualified, work-authorized professionals from filling these essential jobs. SC House Bill 3211 (H.3211) provides a solution by allowing legally authorized workers to apply for state licenses, ensuring that South Carolina has the workforce it needs to keep building.
A Carpenter Ready to Work—But Stuck on the Sidelines
Daniel grew up watching his father build homes, fascinated by the way raw materials came together to create something lasting. By the time he was in high school, he was spending weekends on job sites, learning how to measure, cut, and assemble wood with precision. The path forward seemed clear—finish school, complete a technical training program, and start his career as a carpenter.
He did everything right. He graduated, earned a carpentry certification from a respected technical college, and lined up an apprenticeship with a contractor eager to bring him onto the team. But when it came time to apply for his license, he hit a roadblock. Despite his skills, experience, and valid work authorization, South Carolina’s licensing laws barred him from receiving the credentials he needed to work legally.
Without a license, Daniel’s career was effectively stalled before it even began. He could only take on limited, unlicensed work under the supervision of others, while less experienced peers who had the right paperwork advanced ahead of him. The construction industry needed him, but outdated policies wouldn’t let him contribute.
South Carolina’s Growing Pains: A Workforce Shortage in the Trades
Daniel’s story isn’t unique. Across South Carolina, contractors and trade businesses are struggling to find enough skilled workers to meet the state’s growing demand. Over the past two decades, South Carolina’s population has grown by more than 1.2 million people2. With that growth has come a surge in new home construction, commercial development, and infrastructure expansion. But the skilled trades workforce hasn’t kept pace.
The need for electricians, plumbers, and carpenters has skyrocketed. Projections show that by 2030, demand for electricians in South Carolina will grow by 13%3, while the state will need an additional 1,150 carpenters4 and 660 plumbers5 each year just to keep up with retirements and new projects. Yet, despite this demand, restrictive licensing laws prevent legally authorized workers from stepping into these roles—even when they’ve completed the necessary training and education.
This shortage isn’t just an inconvenience for businesses. It has real economic consequences. When contractors can’t find enough skilled workers, projects get delayed, costs go up, and housing becomes less affordable. Infrastructure improvements slow down, making it harder for new businesses to establish themselves. And as fewer young people enter the trades, an aging workforce means that the shortage will only get worse unless action is taken now.
How Licensing Laws Are Holding the Industry Back
In South Carolina, like in many states, skilled trades require a state-issued license to practice. This ensures that workers meet safety and quality standards. However, the current licensing rules exclude work-authorized immigrants—even those who have completed their training, passed certification exams, and met every other requirement.
The result is a paradox: South Carolina desperately needs more workers in the trades, but qualified individuals are being shut out due to bureaucratic red tape.
These restrictions don’t just harm the workers affected; they hurt the businesses struggling to find talent and the communities waiting on delayed construction projects.Other states have recognized this problem and taken action to address it. Arkansas and Nevada, for example, modernized their licensing laws to allow legally authorized workers to obtain licenses in construction and skilled trades. These changes helped businesses hire faster, reduced training costs, and strengthened local economies. If South Carolina wants to remain competitive, it must follow suit.
A Business-Friendly Solution That Benefits Everyone
H.3211 provides a common-sense solution that will help address South Carolina’s skilled labor shortage without lowering standards or changing existing certification requirements. Under this bill, legally authorized individuals—including DACA recipients, TPS holders, and asylum seekers—would be able to apply for and obtain state occupational and professional licenses as long as they meet all the usual requirements.
For businesses, this means a larger, more qualified labor pool and faster hiring for high-demand positions. For workers like Daniel, it means the ability to contribute their skills, earn a fair wage, and build a stable future. And for South Carolina as a whole, it means keeping up with growth, expanding economic opportunities, and ensuring that the state’s infrastructure needs are met.
The skilled trades have long been a foundation of South Carolina’s economy. But if the state wants to continue growing and thriving, it must ensure that the next generation of builders, electricians, and plumbers has the opportunity to step up and take on the work that needs to be done. H.3211 is a step in the right direction.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, SC Construction Employment, 2023. (Source) ↩︎
- South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office (Source) ↩︎
- ONET, SC Electricians Job Growth, 2024. (Source) ↩︎
- ONET, SC Carpenters Job Projections, 2024. (Source) ↩︎
- ONET, SC Employment Trends: Plumbers, Pipe Fitters, and Steam Fitters, 2024 (Source) ↩︎
