A Growing Workforce, But An Outdated System
South Carolina is thriving, with new businesses opening, communities expanding, and industries evolving. But behind this success, there’s a growing challenge: there simply aren’t enough workers to fill the jobs that keep our state moving forward.
Across healthcare, construction, and education, businesses are struggling to hire the skilled professionals they need. At the same time, thousands of qualified individuals with legal work authorization—including DACA recipients, TPS holders, and asylum seekers—are ready to step in but are blocked by outdated licensing restrictions.
South Carolina isn’t alone in facing this problem. Other states have already modernized their licensing laws to ensure their workforces are strong, competitive, and prepared for the future. If we want to keep up, it’s time to learn from their success.
What Other States Have Done—And What South Carolina Can Learn
Illinois: Opening Doors in Healthcare & Education
For years, Illinois faced severe nursing shortages in hospitals, particularly in rural communities. At the same time, there were trained medical professionals in the state who couldn’t get licensed simply because of where they were born.
In 2018, Illinois passed a law allowing DACA recipients to apply for professional licenses in healthcare, education, and skilled trades.1 The results were immediate. More qualified nurses entered the workforce, clinics expanded services, and hospitals gained desperately needed staff.
South Carolina is currently facing its own nursing shortage, with 11,860 nurses needed by 2037.2 Allowing work-authorized professionals to obtain state licenses—just as Illinois did—could help close that gap before it becomes a full-blown crisis.
Arkansas & Nevada: Expanding the Talent Pipeline
In Arkansas and Nevada, the construction and skilled trades industries were hit hard by labor shortages. Companies were looking to hire, but the talent pool wasn’t deep enough to meet demand.
Both states responded by updating their licensing laws. In 2019, Arkansas passed HB 1552, allowing DACA recipients to obtain their licenses in nursing.3 Nevada passed AB 275 in the same year, removing citizenship requirements from earning state licenses and enabling lawfully present immigrants to fulfill needed roles in fields like electrical work, plumbing, and carpentry.4
South Carolina’s construction industry is growing, but we’re seeing similar shortages. The state currently has 77,590 construction jobs, yet contractors can’t find enough electricians, plumbers, or carpenters to meet demand.5
If we want to keep up with infrastructure projects and new developments, modernizing our licensing laws, just as Arkansas and Nevada did, is a practical, business-friendly solution.
Texas & Florida: Supporting Skilled Trades & Business Growth
Texas and Florida both recognized the economic benefits of licensing reform.
Florida, with its booming real estate and construction sectors,6 made it easier for legally authorized professionals to get licensed in skilled trades like HVAC, electrical work, and plumbing.7 As a result, more businesses were able to expand, and new housing developments weren’t stalled due to worker shortages. Meanwhile, Texas saw similar success when it opened pathways for lawfully present immigrants to obtain licenses in law.8
South Carolina already has the jobs—we just need a system that allows qualified workers to fill them.
The Cost of Doing Nothing
While other states move forward, South Carolina risks falling behind. If we don’t act, we will:
- Lose talent to other states. Workers will move to places where they can get licensed and advance their careers.
- Slow down business growth. Companies will struggle to expand if they can’t find enough skilled workers.
- Reduce access to critical services. Workforce shortages in healthcare, education, and construction will continue to impact communities.
The good news? We don’t have to let that happen.
H.3211 provides a simple solution to ensure South Carolina remains competitive, supports business growth, and meets workforce needs—just as other states have already done successfully.
Why South Carolina Businesses Should Care
For employers, this isn’t a political issue—it’s a workforce and economic issue. Licensing reform has clear business benefits: A strong workforce strengthens businesses. When companies can hire qualified professionals, they grow faster. Workforce shortages create hiring delays. Empty jobs hurt productivity and profits.Modernizing licensing laws benefits industries. From healthcare to construction to real estate, industries depend on a steady supply of skilled workers.
If businesses want to keep South Carolina competitive, supporting H.3211 is a smart move.
- Professional and Occupational Licenses for Immigrants, Catholic Legal Immigration Network, 2019. (Source) ↩︎
- Bureau for Health Workforce, Nurse Shortage Projections, 2024. (Source) ↩︎
- Professional and Occupational Licenses for Immigrants, Catholic Legal Immigration Network, 2019. (Source) ↩︎
- Professional and Occupational Licenses for Immigrants, Catholic Legal Immigration Network, 2019. (Source) ↩︎
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, SC Construction Employment, 2023. (Source) ↩︎
- The Economic Impact of Construction in the United States and Florida, Associated General Contractors of America, 2023 (Source) ↩︎
- Florida Professional License Requirements, The Dream.US, 2023 (Source) ↩︎
- A Decade of State Immigrant Rights Victories, National Immigration Law Center, 2022 (Source) ↩︎
