South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce requires 3 documented employer contacts per week and has strict work search documentation requirements. Log all 3 contacts specifically in SC DEW Online at dew.sc.gov before submitting your weekly certification. SC Works centers throughout the state — including the Upstate manufacturing corridor — provide job referrals and employer connections that generate valid work search contacts. South Carolina DEW's audits are detailed and expect verifiable, specific documentation.
- 3 contacts per week with strict documentation. Log each in SC DEW Online: employer name, position, date, method, result.
- SC Works centers statewide provide employer referrals and career services that count as valid contacts.
- South Carolina DEW conducts detailed work search audits — save application confirmation emails as you make each contact.
Always verify exact numbers, deadlines, and forms on the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce's official website – this page provides general guidance, not state-specific legal advice.
What Counts in South Carolina
Valid South Carolina work search contacts: specific job applications to specific employers for specific positions; job interviews; staffing or temp agency contacts about specific placement opportunities; SC Works Center services including job referrals; and job fair attendance with documented employer interaction. South Carolina DEW's strict standard requires each contact to be specific and verifiable — "applied to companies in the area" or "browsed job boards" does not satisfy SC DEW's documentation requirement. Save application confirmation emails and log contacts as you make them throughout each week.
Frequently Asked Questions
- South Carolina DEW says my work search documentation was insufficient. What specifically is required?
- South Carolina DEW's standard requires: employer name, the specific position title or opportunity, the date of contact, the method (online application, phone call, in-person visit, SC Works referral), and the result or status. Application confirmation emails from employer portals or job boards are strong documentation. Recruiter correspondence about specific positions qualifies. SC Works referral documentation — with the specific position referred to — qualifies. General browsing records or notes without employer names don't satisfy South Carolina's strict standard.
- I'm a laid-off automotive worker in the Upstate. There are many automotive plants near me but few openings right now. How do I find 3 contacts per week?
- Apply to Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers in the Spartanburg-Greenville corridor even if major plants like BMW or Michelin aren't hiring — their supply chains continuously employ skilled manufacturing workers. SC Works centers in Spartanburg and Greenville have direct employer relationships and can generate referrals. Staffing agencies specializing in manufacturing placements (Staffmark, Kelly Services, ManpowerGroup) count as contacts. Online applications to manufacturers outside the Upstate — in the South Carolina Lowcountry or nationally — count equally in SC DEW Online.
- I'm using Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for retraining. Do I still need to do work search?
- TAA-approved retraining may waive South Carolina DEW's work search requirement during the approved training period. Contact SC DEW at 1-866-831-1724 to confirm whether your specific TAA training approval includes a work search waiver. Do not assume the waiver is automatic — verify with SC DEW explicitly and get confirmation in writing or through SC DEW Online. Certify the waiver status each week in SC DEW Online as directed by your DEW case manager.
- SC DEW requires work search contacts but what if all I find are jobs in healthcare and I'm a manufacturing worker?
- South Carolina does not restrict your work search to manufacturing. Apply to any employer where you would genuinely accept a position given your skills — healthcare logistics, supply chain, warehouse supervision, or quality control roles in any industry transfer manufacturing skills. SC Works career counselors can help identify cross-industry opportunities. Early in your South Carolina benefit period, the suitability range for positions you must accept is narrower; later it expands. Document 3 genuine contacts per week regardless of industry.
- I live in rural South Carolina. SC Works is far away and online job postings are limited in my area. What do I do?
- South Carolina does not restrict work search contacts to your immediate area or to in-person contacts. Apply online to South Carolina or national employers for positions you qualify for and would accept — each specific application counts in SC DEW Online regardless of the employer's location. SC Works rural county offices have virtual services. Staffing agency outreach by phone or email counts. Three specific documented contacts per week is achievable through online applications even in rural areas. Contact SC DEW if you are having trouble identifying valid activities in your region.