Employment and Workforce Executive Director Dan Ellzey’s Statement
July 2022 Employment Situation

Columbia, S.C. – “South Carolina’s employment situation remains steady for July with some interesting numbers,” said S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce Executive Director Dan Ellzey. “In terms of the big picture, things are looking stable. The state’s unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.2 percent, the employer survey reported an increase of more than 16,000 jobs, and the number of unemployed individuals decreased by 2,256 people over the month.”

“However, the estimated number of South Carolinians that were employed decreased by 2,293 from June. This means that there was a 4,549 person decline in the labor force for the month of July, a first since the early days of the pandemic. It is likely that this stems from a one-time aberration in Current Population Survey data, which asks a little over a thousand households a month in South Carolina about their labor force status. The disconnect in the numbers could also be due to other factors. For example, a person with multiple jobs counts once in the household survey, but twice or more in the employer survey,” continued Ellzey.

“What we saw in July and are continuing to see in August is a lot of movement in businesses around the state. Initial claims jumped in July as part of the seasonal summer uptick, some businesses are experiencing temporary layoffs waiting for parts and supplies, and while some employers are closing, many others are moving into the state and creating thousands of jobs for South Carolinians,” said Ellzey.

“Our team has been meeting with businesses around the state to customize hiring programs for their specific needs. Mohawk is a prime example. We understand the tremendous impact this closing will have on the county, not only for those employees, but for the stores, salons, and other businesses that support that community. We are fully invested in working with that area to connect people with new jobs or training and partnering with the S.C. Department of Commerce to promote the area’s vibrant workforce to attract new businesses.”

“As we move into Workforce Development Month in September, we will be highlighting some of these efforts and resources as well as all of the services offered through the SC Works centers. There will be more exciting news about the month and the activity of our agency and other partners coming soon. September will be packed full of exciting events,” concluded Ellzey.