The final day of activity at the Canfor lumber mill occurred on Monday.
The factory declared its shutdown in June, The facility revealed its closing date last June, They made public their decision to close in June, The workshop disclosed its closure plans during June, The establishment announced the end of operations in June, The site confirmed its closure was set for June, The business shared news of its impending closure in June, They notified everyone about the closure starting in June, The company stated they would be shutting down this June, The operation will cease at the end of June as previously announced. and Monday marked the final working day for over 120 Darlington staff members.
More than ten years back, Canfor revealed an $8 million investment in the Darlington plant aimed at improvements and higher output, leading to job growth.
In June, Canfor Corporation stated that continuing operations in Darlington was no longer viable due to poor market circumstances and ongoing financial deficits.
The director of economic development for Darlington County stated that this significant job loss will impact numerous individuals.
Clearly, it has had a major effect on both Darlington City and Darlington County since these are the means by which people earn their living," said Stephanie Shaw, Executive Director of Economic Development for Darlington County. "This is their job; this is how they support themselves. Therefore, from the perspective of the workforce, we're striving to collaborate with all our workforce development partners to help relocate these employees elsewhere.
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As reported by the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce, during July 2025, Darlington County experienced 1,600 individuals who were without jobs, resulting in an unemployment rate of 5.5%. This figure represents an increase of 165 more residents facing unemployment compared to June’s total.
Following the declaration of Canfor's shutdown, officials from Darlington County have been working to assist workers in finding new employment options.
"We feel deeply for the closure of this mill; it's a significant event, and these families require employment opportunities, so we're making every effort to collaborate with all possible parties to help place them," Shaw stated.
The local government partnered with South Carolina Works to organize a career expo last week specifically for workers at Canfor.
Around 30 companies from throughout the Pee Dee region attended, providing immediate interviews and details about available jobs.
Canfor also stated that the Estill Mill located in Hampton County is set to shut down this month.
Approximately 290 individuals will be impacted due to Canfor's shutdown of the Estill and Darlington mills.