Boeing Breaks Ground on $1 Billion Expansion, Adding 1,000 Jobs
The 787 Dreamliner program rebounds with its second-best order year on record as the aerospace giant commits to North Charleston's future.
Boeing has broken ground on a $1 billion expansion of its North Charleston manufacturing campus, a project that will require at least 1,000 new production employees and signals renewed confidence in the 787 Dreamliner program.
The expansion comes as the wide-body jet program snaps back to life after years of production challenges, quality concerns, and delivery pauses that tested Boeing’s relationship with customers and regulators. From January through November, airlines ordered 351 Dreamliners, the second-highest annual total in the program’s history.
For Charleston, where Boeing arrived in 2009 with promises of transforming the region into an aerospace hub, the billion-dollar commitment represents a turning point. The company’s struggles over the past several years had raised questions about the long-term trajectory of its South Carolina operations.
The new facility will add manufacturing capacity to keep pace with increased production rates. Boeing has been working to boost monthly Dreamliner output to meet airline demand for fuel-efficient wide-body aircraft, particularly on international routes where the 787’s range and economics prove advantageous.
The 1,000 new positions will be production roles in composite layup, assembly, systems installation, and quality inspection. Boeing currently employs roughly 6,000 workers at its North Charleston campus, making it one of the largest private employers in the region.
Wages for production workers at the non-union South Carolina facility have been a subject of ongoing tension. Boeing has raised pay in recent years to compete for labor in a tight market and address retention challenges.
The expansion project will unfold over several years, with hiring ramping up as new production areas come online. Boeing did not specify the timeline for reaching full employment or production capacity at the expanded facility.
South Carolina officials have supported Boeing’s growth with infrastructure investments and incentive packages, viewing aerospace manufacturing as a cornerstone of the state’s economic development strategy.