OceanaGold's Haile Gold Mine near Kershaw, South Carolina, is rolling out a $240 million investment plan that will bring on roughly 200 additional workers, company officials confirmed Friday. The mine - about a 90 minute drive from Charlotte - is gearing up for a busy stretch as it manages a shift between underground and open pit work. The new hires will be spread across skilled positions in engineering, operations and heavy equipment crews at a site that already ranks as one of the region's largest private employers.
The spending plan and hiring surge were first detailed locally. According to the Charlotte Observer, the $240 million is split between keeping existing operations humming and funding expansion, with Haile currently supporting about 850 full time employees plus around 150 contract workers. Company spokespeople told reporters the incoming jobs will range from advanced engineering roles to on the ground equipment operators, adding more fuel to what local officials say is already a major employment engine for Lancaster County and nearby communities.
OceanaGold's NYSE debut and exploration gains
The hiring news comes as the parent company tries to raise its profile with U.S. investors. In April, OceanaGold started trading on the New York Stock Exchange, a move executives say should widen its access to capital. In an investor release, OceanaGold confirmed the NYSE debut and highlighted a run of high grade drill results and operational improvements at Haile that are helping justify the expansion push. Those gains follow record production and stepped up exploration activity the company flagged late last year.
Local economic ripple
The mine's presence is not just showing up on payroll sheets. A University of South Carolina analysis published in 2025 estimated Haile generates about $717.5 million in annual economic activity statewide and projected a cumulative $9.3 billion impact by 2037. As SCBIZ reported, that tally covers direct wages, contracts with suppliers and the knock on spending that finds its way into local businesses. For Lancaster County - a largely rural area - officials say the mine's paychecks and procurement have had outsized effects on hiring, housing and municipal revenues.
What to watch next
Company officials did not lay out a precise hiring calendar in their initial comments, saying only that recruitment will roll out as expansion projects are staged. The Charlotte Observer also reports that OceanaGold is set to release its first quarter results on May 6, an update that investors and local leaders will be parsing for clues on when the capital spending - and the new jobs - will fully hit. Residents eyeing a role at the mine can keep tabs on current openings via the Haile careers page at OceanaGold.
