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Average Wage Levels at Charleston Digital Corridor Companies Continue to Exceed State and Regional Averages

Submitted by: John Warner on Oct 26, 2004 at 5:00 am Tagged with: General Archives Source:

October 26, 2004 - AVERAGE WAGE LEVELS AT CHARLESTON DIGITAL CORRIDOR COMPANIES
CONTINUE TO EXCEED STATE AND REGIONAL AVERAGES

The second annual survey by the Charleston Digital Corridor found that the
average wage for corridor companies is just over $78,000, over two times the
average annual wages for the State of South Carolina and Charleston/North
Charleston metropolitan area.

The latest data available from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that
South Carolina's average wage for all occupations is $31,160. The average wage
in the Charleston/North Charleston metropolitan area, comprised of Berkeley,
Charleston and Dorchester counties, is $31,380.

''The release of the 2004 Wage Survey demonstrates that the highly focused,
value-added approach practiced by the Digital Corridor is proving successful,''
said Charleston Digital Corridor Foundation Chairman, Kirk King, also a
Corridor CEO. He added, ''With these average wage levels exceeding the 2003
figure of approximately $71,000, we are now starting to reverse the trend of
stagnant wage rates in the region.''

Acknowledging the 2004 wage data, Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr.
reaffirmed his commitment to Charleston's growing knowledge-based community.
''The Touchdown Space, Talent Portal and the Corridor Fund, represent three
innovative initiatives launched by the Charleston Digital Corridor this
summer,'' stated Mayor Riley. According to the Digital Corridor's newest member,
Jeff Grady, ''these unique initiatives are valuable to existing and relocating
companies, the target of the Charleston Digital Corridor.''

About the Charleston Digital Corridor
The Charleston Digital Corridor is a creative effort to attract, nurture and
grow high-tech and knowledge-based companies and industry professionals to the
City of Charleston through a combination of City initiatives and business
incentives, private business support and member-driven programs. With the goal
of offering tangible resources to the business community, the Digital Corridor
serves as a portal to government, infrastructure, real estate, education,
venture capital, professional resources and a trained workforce.
In partnership with regional economic development agencies, communication
infrastructure providers, along with the academic and private sectors, the
Digital Corridor's commitment is to facilitate an environment where technology
companies thrive. The Charleston Digital Corridor consists of four geographic
sections (districts) of the city, offering a diverse range of options to meet
the unique size, price and infrastructure requirements for a variety of
knowledge-based industries.
To learn more about the Corridor, please visit
www.charlestondigitalcorridor.com

For further information contact:
Ernest Andrade (v) 843.724.3773 (c) 843.607.1264
Kimberly Demetriades (v) 843.579.7659