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Mon, 03/11/2019
The number of individuals working across the state increased substantially, by an estimated 5,582 people, marking a new record of 2,260,509 for the Palmetto State.
Unemployment estimates showed little change over the month, decreasing by 421 to 74,823 people. The state’s labor force increased by 5,161 to 2,335,332 people, as the almost all of jobseekers entering the labor force found jobs.
The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.2 percent from the revised December 2018 rate of 3.2 percent.
Since January of 2018, employment gains moved notably higher by approximately 35,251 people, and the labor force estimate rose by 19,237 people. The level of unemployed moved significantly lower by roughly 16,014 people.
Nationally, the unemployment rate increased to 4.0 percent from December’s estimate of 3.9 percent.
Nonagricultural Employment by Industry (Seasonally Adjusted, 1)
In January 2019, seasonally adjusted, nonfarm payrolls increased by 7,400 over the month to a record level of 2,173,900.
The increase was mostly due to the influence in employment levels occurring in Trade Transportation, and Utilities (+2,600); Professional and Business Services (+1,900); Manufacturing (+1,500); Leisure and Hospitality (+1,100); and Government (+800). Also reporting marginal increases were Information (+200); Education and Health Services (+200); and Financial Activities (+100).
Industries reporting declines were Construction (-800) and Other Services (-300).
From January 2018 to January 2019, South Carolina’s economy has added 34,300 seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs.
Industries marking growth were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+11,700); Professional and Business Services (+8,200); Manufacturing (+7,400); Education and Health Services (+5,200); Leisure and Hospitality (+3,300); Government (+3,000); Information (+600); and Financial Activities (+100).
However, noticeable decreases were seen in Construction (-3,900) and Other Services (-1,400).
Nonagricultural Employment by Industry (Not Seasonally Adjusted, 2)
Not seasonally adjusted, nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 35,000 from December 2018 to January 2019 for a total of 2,138,100. This decline is a typical for the December-to-January time period due to seasonal layoffs and school closings between terms.
The only industries that saw growth were in Manufacturing (+500) and Mining and Logging (+100).
Industries reporting losses were seen in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-10,900); Leisure and Hospitality (-6,900); Professional and Business Services (-5,900); Government (-4,600); Education and Health Services (-3,900); Construction (-1,500); Other Services (-1,300); Information (-300); and Financial Activities (-300).
Since January 2018, not seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs were up 36,300 overall in South Carolina.
Industries marking strong annual gains were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+12,900); Professional and Business Services (+8,800); Manufacturing (7,900); Education and Health Services (+5,100); Government (+2,500); Leisure and Hospitality (+2,400); Financial Activities (+600); Information (+500); and Mining and Logging (+100).
Industries reporting declines were Construction (-2,800) and Other Services (-1,700).
| Note | Explanation |
|---|---|
| (1) | Seasonal adjustment removes the effects of events that follow a more or less regular pattern each year (i.e. tourist-related hiring and school closings in the summer). These adjustments make it easier to observe the cyclical and other nonseasonal movements in data over time. |
| (2) | Not Seasonally Adjusted: Effects of regular or seasonal patterns have not been removed from these data. |
| Dec. to Jan. 2019 | Dec. to Jan. 2019 | Jan. 2018 to Jan. 2019 | Jan. 2018 to Jan. 2019 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area | January 2019 | December 2019 | January 2018 | # Change | % Change | # Change | % Change |
| Total Nonfarm Employment | 2,173,900 | 2,166,500 | 2,139,600 | 7,400 | 0.34% | 34,300 | 1.60% |
| Construction | 99,900 | 100,700 | 103,800 | -800 | -0.80% | -3,900 | -3.76% |
| Manufacturing | 252,000 | 250,500 | 244,600 | 1,500 | 0.60% | 7,400 | 3.03% |
| Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 415,300 | 412,700 | 403,600 | 2,600 | 0.63% | 11,700 | 2.90% |
| Information | 28,400 | 28,200 | 27,800 | 200 | 0.70% | 600 | 2.16% |
| Finance Activities | 104,000 | 103,900 | 103,900 | 100 | 0.10% | 100 | 0.10% |
| Professional and Business Services | 300,900 | 299,000 | 292,700 | 1,900 | 0.63% | 8,200 | 2.80% |
| Education and Health Services | 255,200 | 255,000 | 250,000 | 200 | 0.08% | 5,200 | 2.08% |
| Leisure and Hospitality | 267,200 | 266,100 | 263,900 | 1,100 | 0.41% | 3,300 | 1.25% |
| Other Services | 75,200 | 75,500 | 76,600 | -300 | -0.40% | -1,400 | -1.83% |
| Government | 371,300 | 370,500 | 368,300 | 800 | 0.22% | 3,000 | 0.81% |
| Dec. to Jan. 2019 | Dec. to Jan. 2019 | Jan. 2018 to Jan. 2019 | Jan. 2018 to Jan. 2019 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area | January 2019 | December 2019 | January 2018 | # Change | % Change | # Change | % Change |
| Total Nonfarm Employment | 2,138,100 | 2,173,100 | 2,101,800 | -35,00 | -1.61% | 36,300 | 1.73% |
| Mining and Logging | 4,500 | 4,400 | 4,400 | 100 | 2.27% | 100 | 2.27% |
| Construction | 99,200 | 100,700 | 102,000 | -1,500 | -1.49% | -2,800 | -2.75% |
| Manufacturing | 251,700 | 251,200 | 243,800 | 500 | 0.20% | 7,900 | 3.24% |
| Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 410,500 | 421,400 | 397,600 | -10,900 | -2.59% | 12,900 | 3.24% |
| Information | 28,100 | 28,400 | 27,600 | -300 | -1.06% | 500 | 1.81% |
| Financial Activities | 103,100 | 103,400 | 102,500 | -300 | -0.29% | 600 | 0.59% |
| Professional and Business Services | 294,900 | 300,800 | 286,100 | -5,900 | -1.96% | 8,800 | 3.08% |
| Education and Health Services | 253,100 | 257,000 | 248,000 | -3,900 | -1.52% | 5,100 | 2.06% |
| Leisure and Hospitality | 248,300 | 255,200 | 245,900 | -6,900 | -2.70% | 2,400 | 0.98% |
| Other Services | 74,300 | 75,600 | 76,000 | -1,300 | -1.72% | -1,700 | -2.24% |
| Government | 370,400 | 375,000 | 367,900 | -4,600 | -1.23% | 2,500 | 0.68% |
| Dec. to Jan. 2019 | Dec. to Jan. 2019 | Jan. 2018 to Jan. 2019 | Jan. 2018 to Jan. 2019 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area | January 2019 | December 2019 | January 2018 | # Change | % Change | # Change | % Change |
| Statewide | 2,173,900 | 2,166,500 | 2,139,600 | 7,400 | 0.34% | 34,300 | 1.60% |
| Charleston/North Charleston MSA | 371,200 | 370,600 | 362,000 | 600 | 0.16% | 9,200 | 2.54% |
| Columbia MSA | 403,900 | 402,700 | 399,500 | 1,200 | 0.30% | 4,400 | 1.10% |
| Florence MSA | 92,500 | 91,900 | 91,500 | 600 | 0.65% | 1,000 | 1.09% |
| Greenville/Anderson/Mauldin MSA | 428,800 | 427,000 | 423,800 | 1,800 | 0.42% | 5,000 | 1.18% |
| Hilton Head-Bluffton-Beaufort MSA | 84,400 | 83,200 | 81,100 | 1,200 | 1.42% | 3,300 | 4.07% |
| Myrtle Beach MSA | 176,300 | 176,500 | 170,600 | -200 | -0.11% | 5,700 | 3.34% |
| Spartanburg MSA | 160,500 | 158,600 | 156,800 | 1,900 | 1.18% | 3,700 | 2.36% |
| Sumter MSA | 40,700 | 40,900 | 40,100 | -200 | -0.49% | 600 | 1.50% |
Note: Employment estimates have been rounded to the nearest hundred. Sum of detail may not equal totals due to rounding or the exclusion of certain industries from publication. All data are subject to revision.
| Dec. to Jan. 2019 | Dec. to Jan. 2019 | Jan. 2018 to Jan. 2019 | Jan. 2018 to Jan. 2019 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area | January 2019 | December 2019 | January 2018 | # Change | % Change | # Change | % Change |
| Statewide | 2,138,100 | 2,173,100 | 2,101,800 | -35,000 | -1,.61% | 36,300 | 1.73% |
| Charleston/North Charleston MSA | 365,400 | 371,900 | 357,200 | -6,500 | -1.75% | 8,200 | 2.30% |
| Columbia MSA | 398,800 | 402,300 | 395,100 | -6,500 | 1.60% | 3,700 | 0.94% |
| Florence MSA | 91,500 | 92,500 | 90,300 | -1,000 | -1,.08% | 1,200 | 1.33% |
| Greenville MSA | 423,800 | 431,000 | 419,500 | -7,200 | -1.67% | 4,300 | 1.03% |
| Hilton Head-Bluffton-Beaufort MSA | 81,400 | 81,600 | 78,700 | -200 | -0.25% | 2,700 | 3.43% |
| Myrtle Beach MSA/Conway/N. Myrtle Beach MSA | 165,200 | 169,100 | 160,400 | -3.900 | -2.31% | 4,800 | 2.99% |
| Spartanburg MSA | 159,000 | 160,400 | 156,100 | -1,400 | -0.87% | 2,900 | 1.86% |
| Sumter MSA | 40,500 | 41,200 | 39,800 | -700 | -1.70% | 700 | 1.76% |
Note: Employment estimates have been rounded to the nearest hundred. Sum of detail may not equal totals due to rounding or the exclusion of certain industries from publication. All data are subject to revision.
| Area | Rate Up/Rate Down/Same | Labor Force | Jan. 2019 Employment | Jan. 2019 Unemployment Level | Jan. 2019 Unemployment Rate | Labor Force | Dec. 2019 Employment | Dec. 2019 Unemployment Level | Dec. 2019 Unemployment Rate | Labor Force | Jan. 2018 Employment | Jan. 2018 Unemployment Level | Jan. 2018 Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bamberg County | Rate Up | 5,086 | 4,752 | 334 | 6.6 | 5,280 | 4,966 | 314 | 5.9 | 5,287 | 4,853 | 434 | 8.2 |
| Allendale County | Rate Up | 2,845 | 2,671 | 174 | 6.1 | 2,824 | 2,663 | 161 | 5.7 | 2,846 | 2,609 | 237 | 8.3 |
| Fairfield County | Rate Up | 9,773 | 9,197 | 576 | 5.9 | 9,907 | 9,376 | 531 | 5.4 | 10,196 | 9,171 | 1,025 | 10.1 |
| Marion County | Rate Up | 13,129 | 12,374 | 755 | 5.8 | 12,556 | 11,850 | 706 | 5.6 | 12,615 | 11,560 | 1,055 | 8.4 |
| Orangeburg County |
Rate Up |
35,146 | 33,120 | 2,026 | 5.8 | 35,402 | 33,496 | 1,906 | 5.4 | 35,529 | 32,723 | 2,806 | 7.9 |
| Williamsburg County | Rate Up | 12,651 | 11,925 | 726 | 5.7 | 12,674 | 12,005 | 669 | 5.3 | 12,733 | 11,753 | 980 | 7.7 |
| Horry County | Rate Up | 142,086 | 134,358 | 7,728 | 5.4 | 141,408 | 134,878 | 6,530 | 4.6 | 138,881 | 129,134 | 9,747 | 7.0 |
| Georgetown County | Rate Up | 26,263 | 24,907 | 1,356 | 5.2 | 25,976 | 24,776 | 1,200 | 4.6 | 25,935 | 24,143 | 1,791 | 6.9 |
| Marlboro County | Rate Up | 9,349 | 8,874 | 475 | 5.1 | 9,400 | 8,952 | 448 | 4.8 | 9,422 | 8,751 | 671 | 7.1 |
| Dillon County | Rate Up | 13,092 | 12,434 | 658 | 5.0 | 12,882 | 12,281 | 601 | 4.7 | 12,881 | 12,041 | 840 | 6.5 |
| Chester County | Rate Up | 13,412 | 12,754 | 658 | 4.9 | 13,751 | 13,131 | 620 | 4.5 | 13,701 | 12,795 | 906 | 6.6 |
| Barnwell County | Rate Up | 8,513 | 8,108 | 405 | 4.8 | 8,206 | 7,820 | 386 | 4.7 | 8,234 | 7,670 | 564 | 6.8 |
| Clarendon County | Rate Up | 12,917 | 12,301 | 616 | 4.8 | 12,632 | 12,074 | 558 | 4.4 | 12,706 | 11,824 | 882 | 6.9 |
| Lee County | Rate Up | 6,737 | 6,417 | 320 | 4.7 | 6,438 | 6,166 | 272 | 4.2 | 6,452 | 6,044 | 408 | 6.3 |
| Calhoun County | Rate Up | 6,710 | 6,411 | 299 | 4.5 | 6,841 | 6,553 | 288 | 4.2 | 6,799 | 6,413 | 386 | 5.7 |
| Abbeville County | Rate Up | 10,244 | 9,802 | 442 | 4.3 | 10,213 | 9,830 | 383 | 3.8 | 10,175 | 9,591 | 584 | 5.7 |
| Darlington County | Rate Up | 30,439 | 29,170 | 1,269 | 4.2 | 29,761 | 28,580 | 1,181 | 4.0 | 29,894 | 28,117 | 1,777 | 5.9 |
| McCormick County | Rate Up | 3,502 | 3,354 | 148 | 4.2 | 3,427 | 3,307 | 120 | 3.5 | 3,433 | 3,241 | 192 | 5.6 |
| Union County | Rate Up | 11,646 | 11,162 | 484 | 4.2 | 11,727 | 11,273 | 454 | 3.9 | 11,855 | 11,115 | 740 | 6.2 |
| Lancaster County | Rate Up | 39,937 | 38,299 | 1,638 | 4.1 | 39,773 | 38,323 | 1,450 | 3.6 | 39,477 | 37,330 | 2,147 | 5.4 |
| Sumter County | Rate Up | 44,362 | 42,587 | 1,775 | 4.0 | 44,103 | 42,465 | 1,638 | 3.7 | 44,377 | 41,746 | 2,631 | 5.9 |
| Colleton County | Rate Up | 17,061 | 16,394 | 667 | 3.9 | 17,163 | 16,552 | 611 | 3.6 | 17,135 | 16,136 | 999 | 5.8 |
| Florence County | Rate Up | 66,585 | 64,037 | 2,548 | 3.8 | 62,283 | 62,968 | 2,315 | 3.5 | 65,382 | 61,876 | 3,506 | 5.4 |
| Greenwood County | Rate Up | 31,519 | 30,319 | 1,200 | 3.8 | 31,192 | 30,100 | 1,092 | 3.5 | 31,056 | 29,393 | 1,663 | 5.4 |
| Richland County | Rate Up | 196,586 | 189,376 | 7,210 | 3.7 | 198,762 | 192,341 | 6,421 | 3.2 | 197,761 | 187,890 | 9,871 | 5.0 |
| Cherokee County | Rate Up | 25,652 | 24,734 | 918 | 3.6 | 24,392 | 23,551 | 841 | 3.4 | 24,383 | 23,059 | 1,324 | 5.4 |
| Chesterfield County | Rate Up | 22,446 | 21,643 | 803 | 3.6 | 21,979 | 21,252 | 727 | 3.3 | 21,831 | 20,773 | 1,058 | 4.8 |
| Hampton County | Rate Up | 8,407 | 8,108 | 299 | 3.6 | 8,378 | 8,110 | 268 | 3.2 | 8,338 | 7,920 | 418 | 5.0 |
| Kershaw County | Rate Up | 28,982 | 27,933 | 1,049 | 3.6 | 28,977 | 28,017 | 960 | 3.3 | 28,884 | 27,399 | 1,485 | 5.1 |
| Laurens County | Rate Up | 29,896 | 28,834 | 1,062 | 3.6 | 30,397 | 29,402 | 995 | 3.3 | 30,431 | 28,853 | 1,578 | 5.2 |
| Pickens County | Rate Up | 56,262 | 54,319 | 1,943 | 3.5 | 56,999 | 55,253 | 1,746 | 3.1 | 56,959 | 54,189 | 2,770 | 4.9 |
| Anderson County | Rate Up | 89,646 | 86,608 | 3,038 | 3.4 | 90,299 | 87,551 | 2,748 | 3.0 | 90,133 | 85,885 | 4,248 | 4.7 |
| York County | Rate Up | 135,603 | 130,960 | 4,643 | 3.4 | 135,635 | 131,479 | 4,156 | 3.1 | 134,278 | 128,008 | 6,270 | 4.7 |
| Aiken County | Rate Up | 74,683 | 72,183 | 2,500 | 3.3 | 75,142 | 72,876 | 2,266 | 3.0 | 75,987 | 72,381 | 3,606 | 4.7 |
| Beaufort County | Rate Up | 75,430 | 72,956 | 2,474 | 3.3 | 73,953 | 71,746 | 2,207 | 3.0 | 72,985 | 69,472 | 3,513 | 4.8 |
| Edgefield County | Rate Up | 10,706 | 10,349 | 357 | 3.3 | 10,651 | 10,320 | 331 | 3.1 | 10,795 | 10,259 | 536 | 5.0 |
| Oconee County | Rate Up | 35,738 | 34,558 | 1,180 | 3.3 | 34,853 | 33,801 | 1,052 | 3.0 | 34,819 | 33,066 | 1,753 | 5.0 |
| Berkeley County | Rate Up | 101,141 | 97,892 | 3,249 | 3.2 | 98,855 | 95,945 | 2,910 | 2.9 | 97,383 | 93,051 | 4,332 | 4.4 |
| Dorchester County | Rate Up |
75,154 |
72,729 | 2,425 | 3.2 | 74,595 | 72,377 | 2,218 | 3.0 | 73,469 | 70,203 | 3,266 | 4.4 |
| Jasper County | Rate Up | 12,285 | 11,894 | 391 | 3.2 | 12,249 | 11,911 | 338 | 2.8 | 12,089 | 11,544 | 545 | 4.5 |
| Newberry County | Rate Up | 19,090 | 18,481 | 609 | 3.2 | 18,747 | 18,198 | 549 | 2.9 | 18,707 | 17,815 | 892 | 4.8 |
| Spartanburg County | Rate Up | 148,712 | 143,995 | 4,717 | 3.2 | 146,396 | 142,209 | 4,187 | 2.9 | 146,913 | 140,224 | 6,689 | 4.6 |
| Greenville County | Rate Up | 248,742 | 241,125 | 7,617 | 3.1 | 249,505 | 242,625 | 6,880 | 2.8 | 248,589 | 237,981 | 10,608 | 4.3 |
| Saluda County | Rate Up | 9,011 | 8,729 | 282 | 3.1 | 8,930 | 8,670 | 260 | 2.9 | 8,928 | 8,522 | 406 | 4.5 |
| Charleston County | Rate Up | 206,611 | 200,629 | 5,982 | 2.9 | 205,979 | 200,519 | 5,460 | 2.7 | 202,700 | 194,511 | 8,189 | 4.0 |
| Lexington County | Rate Up | 147,231 | 142,954 | 4,277 | 2.9 | 147,333 | 143,414 | 3,919 | 2.7 | 146,364 | 140,178 | 6,186 | 4.2 |
| Charleston - North Charleston MSA |
Rate Up | 382,906 | 371,250 | 11,656 | 3.0 | 379,429 | 368,841 | 10,588 | 2.8 | 373,552 | 357,765 | 15,787 | 4.2 |
| Columbia MSA | Rate Up | 398,293 | 384,600 | 13,693 | 3.4 | 400,750 | 388,371 | 12,379 | 3.1 | 398,932 | 379,573 | 19,359 | 4.9 |
| Florence MSA | Rate Up | 97,024 | 93,207 | 3,817 | 3.9 | 95,044 | 91,548 | 3,496 | 3.7 | 95,276 | 89,993 | 5,283 | 5.5 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin MSA | Rate Up | 424,546 | 410,886 | 13,660 | 3.2 | 427,200 | 414,831 | 12,369 | 2.9 | 426,112 | 406,908 | 19,204 | 4.5 |
| SEASONALLY ADJUSTED South Carolina | - | 2,335,332 | 2,260,509 | 74,823 | 3.2 | 2,330,171 | 2,254,927 | 75,244 | 3.2 | 2,316,095 | 2,225,258 | 90,837 | 3.9 |
Current month's estimates are preliminary. All data are subject to revision.