Best Job & Career in South Carolina — 17 resources

About Job & Career for Women

Job and career resources for women run through the 2,400+ American Job Centers (AJCs) nationwide, the Department of Labor's Women's Bureau, and SBA Women's Business Centers. AJCs offer free job search, resume help, and WIOA-funded training (often

0,000+ in tuition for in-demand occupations). WANTO grants fund women entering nontraditional trades like construction, electrical, and HVAC. Registered Apprenticeships pay workers during training, and organizations like Chicago Women in Trades, Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW), and Dress for Success support entry and re-entry. For formerly incarcerated women, programs like the Center for Employment Opportunities provide transitional jobs. This directory includes AJCs, WBCs, apprenticeships, and women-focused workforce programs.

Job & Career in South Carolina

South Carolina family courts handle divorce, custody, and support in each of its 16 judicial circuits. The Child Support Services Division operates under the Department of Social Services. Charleston, Columbia, North Charleston, and Mount Pleasant are the largest cities. South Carolina Legal Services and the South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (SCCADVASA) serve women.

17 Resources

1. SC Works — Workforce Centers — Free

SC Works at scworks.org operates 25+ comprehensive American Job Centers across the state offering free career counseling, resume help, computer access, and workshops. WIOA training funds available for eligible women. Phone 803-737-2400 Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm to find your nearest SC Works center.

803-737-2400 · Statewide Locations · Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm · Visit Website

2. Goodwill Industries — Upstate/Midlands SC — Free

Goodwill Upstate/Midlands SC at 115 Haywood Road in Greenville (plus Columbia and other locations) offers free job training, digital skills classes, and supported employment for women with disabilities. Their network of stores hires community members. Phone 864-467-3350 Mon-Fri 8am-5pm.

864-467-3350 · 115 Haywood Rd, Greenville, SC 29607 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

3. SC Small Business Development Center — Free

SC SBDC at 1014 Greene Street in Columbia (with offices at USC and partner campuses statewide) offers free business plan consulting, financial projections, and capital sourcing for women launching or growing a business. Phone 803-777-4907 Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm. Free 1-on-1 consulting.

803-777-4907 · 1014 Greene St, Columbia, SC 29208 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm · Visit Website

4. Trident United Way — Career Programs — Free

Trident United Way at 6296 Rivers Avenue in North Charleston runs the Prosperity Center model — a one-stop hub combining career coaching, financial counseling, and benefits navigation for low-income Lowcountry women. Phone 843-740-7700 Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm. Free.

843-740-7700 · 6296 Rivers Ave Suite 303, North Charleston, SC 29406 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm · Visit Website

5. Urban League of the Upstate — Career Services — Free

Urban League of the Upstate at 15 Regency Hill Drive in Greenville provides job-readiness training, career placement, and entrepreneurship support, with particular focus on Black women advancing economically. Phone 864-244-3862 Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm. Free.

864-244-3862 · 15 Regency Hill Dr, Greenville, SC 29607 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm · Visit Website

6. SCORE — South Carolina — Free

SCORE South Carolina at score.org/southcarolina is the SBA-funded mentor network of volunteer business professionals offering free 1-on-1 mentorship to women entrepreneurs. Local chapters in Columbia, Charleston, Greenville. Phone 803-765-5345 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. Free.

803-765-5345 · Columbia, SC · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

7. SC Women's Business Center — Free

The SC Women's Business Center at scwbc.org is the SBA-funded Women's Business Center serving SC, offering free business plan workshops, capital access training, and certification help for women-owned businesses pursuing federal contracts. Phone 803-461-3232 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm.

803-461-3232 · Columbia, SC · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

8. CareerOneStop — Free

CareerOneStop.org is the US Department of Labor's career portal: national job bank, training-program search, salary data, and the locator for American Job Centers (SC Works in SC). Free, no account for most tools.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

9. America's Job Centers — Free

CareerOneStop's locator lists 2,400+ AJCs including all SC Works centers. Each AJC offers free career counseling, workshops, and WIOA-funded training scholarships. Useful when relocating or seeking in-person help.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

10. DOL Women's Bureau — Free

The DOL Women's Bureau at dol.gov/agencies/wb publishes data on women's earnings, workplace protections, and policy briefs — useful when mothers negotiate wages or file wage-discrimination complaints. Free public resources.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

11. Dress for Success — Free

DressForSuccess.org's national site lists the Midlands affiliate and other Dress for Success programs. Career Center programs go beyond clothing — interview prep, salary negotiation, Professional Women's Group. Free for referred women.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

12. Bottomless Closet — Free

Bottomless Closet at bottomlesscloset.org provides interview-appropriate clothing plus mentorship to economically disadvantaged women in major metro areas; useful for SC mothers commuting to neighboring metros. Free for referred clients.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

13. Year Up — Free

Year Up at yearup.org runs a free 1-year program combining six months of professional skill-building with a paid corporate internship for young adults 18-29. Programs in Charlotte (accessible to upper-SC women) and other metros. Free for accepted students plus stipend.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

14. Goodwill Career Services — Free

Goodwill.org's career services locator finds Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands SC plus other regional affiliates. Free job training and placement in retail, healthcare, and digital skills. Especially supportive for women with employment barriers.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

15. Women Employed — Free

Women Employed at womenemployed.org advocates for working women through policy and provides free career navigation tools. Their research on the wage gap and care infrastructure informs federal and state policy. Free.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

16. SCORE — Free Business Mentors — Free

SCORE at score.org is the SBA-funded national mentor network. SC chapters in Columbia, Charleston, Greenville. Sign up for free virtual or in-person mentor matching. Especially helpful for women starting service businesses or creative ventures.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

17. SBA Office of Women's Business Ownership — Free

SBA's OWBO at sba.gov funds Women's Business Centers (SCWBC in Columbia), the WOSB federal contracting program, and InnovateHER. Useful for SC women planning to start a business or compete for government contracts. Free resources.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many job & career resources are in South Carolina?
Women's Corner tracks 17 job & career resources for women in South Carolina.
Are job & career resources in South Carolina free?
17 of the 17 listed job & career resources in South Carolina are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in South Carolina have job & career resources?
Listings span cities including Greenville, Columbia, North Charleston.
What are some examples of job & career resources in South Carolina?
Featured entries include SC Works — Workforce Centers, Goodwill Industries — Upstate/Midlands SC, SC Small Business Development Center, Trident United Way — Career Programs, Urban League of the Upstate — Career Services.
Do these listings include phone numbers?
7 of 17 South Carolina job & career listings include phone numbers.
Where do I get free job training?
Your local American Job Center (find at CareerOneStop.org or call 1-877-872-5627) offers free training, resume help, and job placement through the WIOA program. Goodwill, Dress for Success, and Bottomless Closet provide job-readiness, interview clothing, and coaching. Community colleges run short-term certificate programs (CNA, medical billing, IT) under
,000 that lead to immediate jobs.
Are there programs that hire single mothers?
Yes. Many employers partner with Goodwill, YWCA, and Workforce Boards on second-chance and single-mom hiring tracks — childcare assistance, flexible schedules, and tuition reimbursement included. Look at 'Family Forward NC' style state initiatives, certified Family-Friendly employers, and federal contractors (required to support working parents). Healthcare and logistics are the fastest-growing single-mom-friendly fields.
How do I write a resume after years out of the workforce?
Skip the chronological format — use a functional or hybrid resume that leads with skills (organization, budgeting, time management, problem-solving from caregiving counts). Reframe volunteer work, PTA, and freelance work as professional experience. Free help: American Job Centers, Dress for Success Career Center, LinkedIn's free resume builder, and the SBA Women's Business Centers.
What if I have a criminal record?
You still qualify for most jobs — Ban-the-Box laws in 37 states delay background questions until later in hiring. Federal contractors can't ask about records on the initial application. The Federal Bonding Program insures employers against loss for hiring you. Many states allow expungement of certain records after a waiting period — ask legal aid about clearing your record.