New S.C. labor job announced

By Jim Davenport

The Associated Press

COLUMBIA - Less than a day after the Federal Reserve chairman underscored the need for training programs for people already working, the state Commerce Department announced it has a new "deputy secretary for work force."

On Thursday, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke spoke to a crowd of more than 600 in Greenville about productivity and how growing that key economic engine depends on existing workers developing skills and flexibility throughout their work life.

Apart from the title, there's not much "new" in the deputy's position.

Peggy Torrey, the new deputy to Commerce Secretary Joe Taylor, has been on the job since February. Taylor was not immediately available to answer questions, but Commerce spokeswoman Karen Owens said Torrey's new title was announced last week.

Jobs and the state's economy have been a top issue in this year's re-election campaign by Taylor's boss, Republican Gov. Mark Sanford. And the announcement came off looking like a "political shell game" to the campaign of Sanford's Democratic opponent in the Nov. 7 election, state Sen. Tommy Moore of Clearwater.

"Changing titles doesn't help deliver jobs to South Carolina families," Karen Gutmann, Moore's campaign spokeswoman said.