Job Openings in South Carolina in 2024
By Lainey Stalnaker, Data Analytics Writer
Each month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) conducts the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), collecting data on job openings, hires, and separations at both the national and state level. These data are available for all nonfarm establishments and are seasonally adjusted.[1]
Job openings in South Carolina spiked to historic highs after the pandemic, but the surge has slowed in recent years. From January 2024 through November 2024, job openings averaged 151,000 per month, down from an average of 172,000 in 2023. The beginning of the year was strongest, with 163,000 openings recorded in January of 2024. The number of openings dipped over the summer, hitting a low of 122,000 in September, possibly due to inclement weather events. This was the lowest number recorded since August of 2020. Openings ticked back up in the following months, reaching 154,000 in October, and 152,000 openings were recorded in November. See Figure 1 for a month-by-month comparison from January 2023 through November 2024.
Figure 1. Job Openings Levels, SC, Jan 2023-Nov. 2024 (thousands) | ||||||||||||
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 2023 | 185 | 170 | 187 | 179 | 172 | 161 | 175 | 171 | 168 | 169 | 167 | 159 |
| 2024 | 163 | 161 | 159 | 159 | 159 | 139 | 146 | 149 | 122 | 154 | 152 (P) | |
The job openings rate (calculated by dividing the number of job openings by the combined sum of openings and employment and multiplying by 100) reflected the same trend, decreasing slightly from 2023 to 2024. As a ratio, it gives some insight into the relative demand for workers. The rate was 6.5 in January of 2024, down one point from the year before. September recorded a low of 4.8, but the rate increased to 6.0 in October, which was sustained in November. See Figure 2 for the full breakdown.
The current job market is not as frenetic as it was post-pandemic, but openings remain high. To contextualize, the average number of job openings in 2024 was 38,000 more than the average in 2019, which was just 113,000. Similarly, the 2024 average monthly rate of 6.0 exceeded the 2019 average of 4.9. So, while openings may be lower than they were a few years ago, job opportunities remain plentiful in South Carolina.
[1] https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/jltst.pdf