SC Employers Gain Veteran Hiring Pipeline

Employers across South Carolina can reach veterans and military spouses through STAYS interviews and SC Works job matching.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Military Jobs

SC Employers Gain Veteran Hiring Pipeline

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The South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce is highlighting job programs for veterans and military spouses ahead of Veterans Day. The STAYS program, short for "Stay to Apply Your Skills in South Carolina," connects veterans and military spouses with employers, job training and interview opportunities, and promises up to five interviews with STAYS employers.

Why it matters

Helping service members find civilian work after leaving the military is described as critical to retaining talent and strengthening the state's workforce. For employers in South Carolina, the programs offer a structured pipeline of candidates with military experience, many of whom are already connected to the state's installations.

The STAYS program guarantees up to five interviews with participating employers, while the state references eight military bases as the context for its veteran hiring efforts. The source does not report enrollment or placement totals for the program.

The players

South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce

The state agency that administers workforce programs and job services, including the STAYS program for veterans and military spouses.

SC Works

The statewide workforce system that delivers job search, resume posting and employer-connection services through its Veterans Portal.

Carl Young

An Army veteran who connected with the STAYS program after leaving the military and found a job through it.

The details

Veterans access the STAYS program through the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce and SC Works, the state's workforce system. Through the SC Works Veterans Portal, users can search for jobs, post resumes, find hiring events and connect with veteran employment specialists. Under STAYS, the decision to move forward to an interview rests with both the interviewee and the employer.

Workforce officials highlighted the veteran job programs ahead of Veterans Day, observed November 11.

Market Landscape

State-run workforce programs such as STAYS sit alongside federal transition assistance for separating service members, adding a regional layer of job placement support. The source does not compare STAYS outcomes with those of other states' veteran hiring programs.

Employers in South Carolina with openings suited to military experience should consider engaging SC Works and its veteran employment specialists to access candidates. Human resources teams can use the STAYS interview commitment as a structured route to reach veterans and military spouses.

The takeaway

Employers hiring in South Carolina can use the SC Works Veterans Portal to post openings, search for candidates and find hiring events aimed at veterans. Operators should track whether STAYS placement data is published in future reporting to judge the program's effect on local hiring.