Employment and Workforce Executive Director William Floyd’s Statement

February 2026 Employment Situation

Columbia, S.C. – "South Carolina’s workforce reached a new milestone in February 2026, with 2,524,723 residents employed. The state added 8,515 workers month-over-month and saw an increase of 44,884 more people working compared to the same time last year," stated South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) Executive Director William Floyd.  

“The state’s labor force grew to 2,658,806, including individuals employed and those unemployed looking for work. The unemployment rate slightly rose to 5.0 percent, primarily driven by overall growth in the labor force,” continued Floyd. 

“Manufacturing added 2,600 jobs in February and, compared to a year ago, South Carolina has also seen steady growth across a variety of industries, including construction, education and health services, government, and leisure and hospitality. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also released more detailed annual state-level labor force data, which showed that for the prime age demographic of jobseekers, ages 25-54, South Carolina’s labor force participation rate rose to 82.7 percent last year. In that segment, South Carolina has surpassed all of its neighbors in the Southeast region, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Tennessee,” stated Floyd.

“February 2026 was also Job Shadowing Awareness Month at our agency, when we recognized the exceptional internships, apprenticeships, career pathway programs, and youth employment opportunities the Palmetto State offers. We shared many success stories from employers and young people, as well as program and partner spotlights, on social media. The Coordinating Council for Workforce Development also launched an Industry Engagement Toolkit on the Find Your Future SC platform to provide resources for employers interested in developing these programs to connect with young people,” said Floyd.

“From promoting part-time jobs on our Youth Employment Site to hosting school tours, the good news is that any business can work with DEW’s Regional Workforce Advisors (RWAs) to find new ways to connect with students, regardless of its size, industry, or location. Learn more about their services, see them in action, and connect with your local RWA at dew.sc.gov/rwa,” concluded Floyd.

As a reminder, today’s publication of the February data is delayed due to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ annual revision of national estimates. The BLS used the first quarter of this year to benchmark statistics, having revised or adjusted some data. Due to this benchmarking period, March and April numbers will be released respectively on May 6 and 22. The BLS’ full schedule of releases for the calendar year is available here.