State’s only gold mine boosts SC economy with $717M impact

A new economic impact study conducted by the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business concluded that South Carolina’s only gold mine has an economic impact of more than $700 million on the communities around it.

Haile Gold Mine, located near Kershaw, has an annual economic impact of $717.5 million statewide and supports thousands of jobs, according to a news release.

Highlights of the 2025 Economic and Social Impact Study include:

• In Lancaster County, the Haile Gold Mine generates $7 million in positive, annual economic impact, supporting 1,177 jobs and $106.3 million in labor income.
• Expanding the scope to the surrounding six-county region (Lancaster, Chester, Chesterfield, Fairfield, Kershaw and York counties), the Haile Gold Mine’s positive economic impact increases to $634.0 million annually, supporting 1,413 jobs and $117.8 million in labor income.
• Average annual employee compensation of the Haile Gold Mine significantly exceeds median household income in every country in the six-county region.
• The Haile Gold Mine supports 1,833 jobs statewide and $141.8 million in annual labor income.
• Cumulative economic impact of the Haile Gold Mine on South Carolina is projected to total more than $9.3 billion by 2037.

“These numbers emphasize the important role of Haile Gold Mine as a key economic driver in South Carolina,” Matt Warner, asset president of the mine, said in the news release. “These incredible economic contributions include jobs, wages, procurement of goods and services, and increased household spending. Together, these are fueling prosperity into our local home county, the surrounding region and our state. The average salary for a Haile team member exceeds regional incomes. This can be life changing for our local residents. We want to thank the community for trusting us to operate and contribute to the economy in such a powerful way.”

The Haile Gold Mine has a history dating back 200 years in Lancaster County, but only in 2017 did commercial production relaunch.

“Our commitment to responsible mining goes beyond simply producing gold – it’s also how we can create opportunities and benefits for our local communities,” Warner said in the release. “I couldn’t be prouder to be doing what we do while creating good, well-paying jobs, supporting local businesses and helping to strengthen our local and regional economies.”

OceanaGold‘s Haile Gold Mine is the only operating gold mine east of the Mississippi River, according to the release. The mine employs more than 800 people and produced more than 212,000 ounces of gold in 2024.

OceanaGold Corp. is an intermediate gold and copper producer. The company is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: OGC) and has a portfolio of four operating mines: the Haile Gold Mine; Didipio Mine in the Philippines; and the Macraes and Waihi mines in New Zealand.