BMW’s recent announcement that it will hire up to 700 people to staff additional shifts at its Greer manufacturing plant is good news for South Carolina, and this news offers evidence that confidence might be returning to the state’s economy.

At the same time, the frenzy of job seekers who lined up at a one-day job fair for the BMW positions is an indication of the long road that lies ahead. With South Carolina’s unemployment rate at 11.5 percent, the expansion is welcome news to be sure.

The announcement is not a cure-all. But given BMW’s impact on South Carolina’s economy — on average, for every job created at the German auto-maker’s manufacturing plant another 4.3 are created in the state — there should be other opportunities in the near future. ...

Those breathing easier could be other companies that were waiting to make an investment of their own or individuals who were holding off on purchases because of job insecurity.

BMW’s decision to add these employees doesn’t signal an end to the economic pain this region has felt. But it does signal that one of South Carolina’s most important employers is feeling better about the future. And that’s important to all of us.

The Greenville News