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

Columbia, S.C. – “This month, the number of individuals who are unemployed dropped by about 1,000 from 75,661 to 74,539. Consequently, there was a tick down in the unemployment rate from 3.2% to 3.1%. At the same time, the number of employed also dropped by approximately 4,000 from 2,323,963 to 2,320,187. With the drop in the unemployed and employed, there were about 5,000 individuals who left the labor force,” said S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce Executive Director Dan Ellzey.

“While the numbers tend to fluctuate from month to month, South Carolina continues to enjoy record employment this year. Some employers have had temporary layoffs due to parts and supply shortages, and there are business closures. What makes this time unique is the number of alternatives and opportunities for jobseekers. There are more than 100,000 jobs available across the state as well as training and development to help people gain skills for a new job,” said Ellzey.

“There are also industries that are showing strong growth in 2022,” continued Ellzey. “Accommodation and Food Services has grown by nearly 15,000 people, and both Retail Trade and the Government sectors have grown by approximately 8,000 people.”

“Despite the ups and downs in the numbers, the focus of the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce is not going to change. Our agency is not only helping the people who come to us for service, we are connecting with the unemployed through efforts like the Labor Force Participation Task Force and the Laurens Direct Connect program to find out why they are not working and how we can help,” said Ellzey. “Workforce Development Month is the perfect time to focus on these efforts. With the governor’s proclamation for September and thousands of people participating in workforce events statewide, we are highlighting the abundant jobs, training, workshops, and programs offered by our agency all year long.”