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Fri, 05/17/2019
South Carolina’s Employment Situation
April 2019
Employment Expansion Continues
Unemployment Rate Ticks Up
The number of individuals working moved higher, by an estimated 6,704 people, compared to March of 2019, establishing a new record of 2,281,003.
Unemployment estimates increased over the month by 2,772 to 79,088 people. Additionally, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate ticked upward to 3.4 percent from March’s estimate of 3.2 percent.
The state’s labor force exceeded March’s estimate by approximately 9,476 to 2,360,091 people as more people entered the labor force looking for work.
Since April of 2018, employment gains moved noticeably higher by approximately 44,606 people. Likewise, the labor force estimate rose by nearly 41,806 people. The level of unemployed moved lower by about 2,800 people.
Nationally, the unemployment rate declined to 3.6 percent from March’s estimate of 3.8 percent.
Nonagricultural Employment by Industry (Seasonally Adjusted1)
In April 2019, seasonally adjusted, nonfarm payrolls increased by 6,700 over the month to a level of 2,178,500, a new record for the Palmetto State.
Increase in employment was primarily due to growth in the Professional and Business Services (+3,300) industry across the state.
Additional increases were seen in Other Services (+1,200); Government (+900); Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+400); Leisure and Hospitality (+400); Financial Activities (+300); Manufacturing (+200); Construction (+100); and Education and Health Services (+100).
Information marked a slight decline in employment over the month (-200).
From April 2018 to April 2019, South Carolina’s economy has added 42,300 seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs.
Industries marking strong growth were Leisure and Hospitality (+8,700); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+8,700); Manufacturing (+8,100); Professional and Business Services (+7,000); Education and Health Services (+6,500); Government (+5,300); Financial Activities (+1,400); and Other Services (+700).
Decreases were seen in Construction (-3,600) and Information (-600).
Nonagricultural Employment by Industry (Not Seasonally Adjusted2)
Not seasonally adjusted, nonfarm payroll employment increased by 17,400 from March 2019 to April 2019 for a total of 2,181,700. Increases continued while businesses ramped up their hiring process during the spring season.
Industries seeing growth were Leisure and Hospitality (+9,600); Professional and Business Services (+3,800); Government (+1,700); Other Services (+1,400); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+700); Construction (+400); Manufacturing (+300); and Financial Activities (+200). Meanwhile, Mining and Logging industry remained flat.
Industries reporting losses were Education and Health Services (-500) and Information (-200).
Since April 2018, not seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs were up 39,500 in South Carolina.
Industries marking strong annual gains were Leisure and Hospitality (+9,000); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+8,700); Manufacturing (+8,400); Education and Health Services (+6,900); Government (+5,300); Professional and Business Services (+4,000); Other Services (+700); Financial Activities (+400); and Mining and Logging (+100).
Industries reporting declines were Construction (-3,200) and Information (-800).
| 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. |
| March to April 2019 | March to April 2019 | April 2019 to April 2019 | April 2019 to April 2019 | ||||
| Area | April 2019 | March 2019 | April 2018 | # Change | % Change | # Change | % Change |
| Total Nonfarm Employment | 2,178,500 | 2,171,800 | 2,136,200 | 6,700 | 0.31 | 42,300 | 1.98 |
| Construction | 100,100 | 100,000 | 103,700 | 100 | 0.10 | -3,600 | -3.47 |
| Manufacturing | 255,100 | 254,900 | 247,000 | 200 | 0.08 | 8,100 | 3.28 |
| Trade, Transportation, and Utilities0.39% | 412,700 | 412,300 | 404,000 | 400 | 0.10 | 8,700 | 2.15 |
| Information | 27,600 | 27,800 | 28,200 | -200 | -0.72 | -600 | -2.13 |
| Finance Activities | 104,200 | 103,900 | 102,800 | 300 | 0.29 | 1,400 | 1.36 |
| Professional and Business Services | 298,300 | 295,000 | 291,300 | 3,300 | 1.11 | 7,000 | 2.40 |
| Education and Health Services | 257,900 | 257,800 | 251,400 | 100 | 0.04 | 6,500 | 2.59 |
| Leisure and Hospitality | 267,100 | 266,700 | 258,400 | 400 | 0.15 | 8,700 | 3.37 |
| Other Services | 77,800 | 76,600 | 77,100 | 1,200 | 1.54 | 700 | 0.91 |
| Government | 373,200 | 372,300 | 367,900 | 900 | 0.24 | 5,300 | 1.44 |
| March to April 2019 | March to April 2019 | April 2019 to April 2019 | April 2019 to April 2019 | ||||
| Area | April 2019 | March 2019 | April 2018 | # Change | % Change | # Change | % Change |
| Total Nonfarm Employment | 2,181,700 | 2,164,300 | 2,142,200 | 17,400 | 0.80 | 39,500 | 1.84 |
| Mining and Logging | 4,500 | 4,500 | 4,400 | 0 | 0.00 | 100 | 2.27 |
| Construction | 100,000 | 99,600 | 103,200 | 400 | 0.40 | -3,200 | -3.10 |
| Manufacturing | 255,300 | 255,000 | 246,900 | 300 | 0.12 | 8,400 | 3.40 |
| Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 409,900 | 409,200 | 401,200 | 700 | 0.17 | 8,700 | 2.17 |
| Information | 27,500 | 27,700 | 28,300 | -200 | -0.72 | -800 | -2.83 |
| Financial Activities | 103,200 | 103,000 | 102,800 | 200 | 0.19 | 400 | 0.39 |
| Professional and Business Services | 295,800 | 292,000 | 291,800 | 3,800 | 1.30 | 4,000 | 1.37 |
| Education and Health Services | 258,800 | 259,300 | 251,900 | -500 | -0.19 | 6,900 | 2.74 |
| Leisure and Hospitality | 271,400 | 261,800 | 262,400 | 9,600 | 3.67 | 9,000 | 3.43 |
| Other Services | 78,100 | 76,700 | 77,400 | 1,400 | 1.83 | 700 | 0.90 |
| Government | 377,200 | 375,500 | 371,900 | 1,700 | 0.45 | 5,300 | 1.43 |
| March to April 2019 | March to April 2019 | April 2019 to April 2019 | April 2019 to April 2019 | ||||
| Area | April 2019 | March 2019 | April 2018 | # Change | % Change | # Change | % Change |
| Statewide | 2,178,500 | 2,171,800 | 2,136,200 | 6,700 | 0.31 | 42,300 | 1.98 |
| Charleston/North Charleston MSA | 372,500 | 370,400 | 362,100 | 2,100 | 0.56 | 10,400 | 2.87 |
| Columbia MSA | 402,600 | 403,100 | 399,600 | -500 | -0.12 | 3,000 | 0.75 |
| Florence MSA | 92 400 | 92,200 | 90,800 | 200 | 0.22 | 1,600 | 1.76 |
| Greenville/Anderson/Mauldin MSA | 430,300 | 429,200 | 424,600 | 1,100 | 0.26 | 5,700 | 1.34 |
| Hilton Head-Bluffton-Beaufort MSA | 84,000 | 84,000 | 81,500 | 0 | 0.00 | 2,500 | 3.07 |
| Myrtle Beach MSA | 178,000 | 178,900 | 170,800 | -900 | -0.51 | 7,200 | 4.22 |
| Spartanburg MSA | 161,400 | 160,900 | 158,300 | 500 | 0.31 | 3,100 | 1.96 |
| Sumter MSA | 40,900 | 40,900 | 40,000 | 0 | 0.00 | 900 | 2.25 |
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.
| March to April 2019 | March to April 2019 | April 2019 to April 2019 | April 2019 to April 2019 | ||||
| Area | April 2019 | March 2019 | April 2018 | # Change | % Change | # Change | % Change |
| Statewide | 2,181,700 | 2,164,300 | 2,142,200 | 17,400 | 0.80 | 39,500 | 1.84 |
| Charleston/North Charleston MSA | 372,000 | 369,000 | 363,100 | 3,000 | 0.81 | 8,900 | 2.45 |
| Columbia MSA | 402,500 | 402,800 | 399,200 | -300 | -0.07 | 3,300 | 0.83 |
| Florence MSA | 92,900 | 92,600 | 91,000 | 300 | 0.32 | 1,900 | 2.09 |
| Greenville MSA | 430,300 | 428,400 | 424,900 | 1,900 | 0.44 | 5,400 | 1.27 |
| Hilton Head-Bluffton-Beaufort MSA | 84,600 | 83,000 | 82,100 | 1,600 | 1.93 | 2,500 | 3.05 |
| Myrtle Beach MSA/Conway/N. Myrtle Beach MSA | 180,000 | 175,000 | 173,000 | 5,000 | 2.86 | 7,000 | 4.05 |
| Spartanburg MSA | 161,900 | 161,200 | 159,000 | 700 | 0.43 | 2,900 | 1.82 |
| Sumter MSA | 41,100 | 40,900 | 40,200 | 200 | 0.49 | 900 | 2.24 |
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 | April 2019 Employment | April 2019 Unemployment Level | April 2019 Unemployment Rate | Labor Force | March 2019 Employment | March 2019 Unemployment Level | March 2019 Unemployment Rate | Labor Force | April 2018 Employment | April 2018 Unemployment Level | April 2018 Unemployment Rate |
| Allendale County |
Rate Down |
2,813 | 2,658 | 155 | 5.5 | 2,752 | 2,593 | 159 | 5.8 | 2,705 | 2,572 | 133 | 4.9 |
| Bamberg County | Rate Down | 5,011 | 4,755 | 256 | 5.1 | 4,941 | 4,657 | 284 | 5.7 | 4,958 | 4,706 | 252 | 5.1 |
| Marion County | Rate Down | 13,278 | 12,666 | 612 | 4.6 | 13,168 | 12,479 | 689 | 5.2 | 12,822 | 12,244 | 578 | 4.5 |
| Fairfield County | Rate Down | 9,745 | 9,304 | 441 | 4.5 | 9,782 | 9,294 | 488 | 5.0 | 9,718 | 9,155 | 563 | 5.8 |
| Marlboro County | Rate Down | 9,379 | 8,960 | 419 | 4.5 | 9,290 | 8,436 | 454 | 4.9 | 9,006 | 4,617 | 389 | 4.3 |
| Orangeburg County | Rate Down | 34,943 | 33,355 | 1,588 | 4.5 | 34,699 | 32,924 | 1,775 | 5.1 | 34,136 | 32,642 | 1,495 | 4.4 |
| Barnwell County | Rate Down | 8,599 | 3,219 | 380 | 4.4 | 8,497 | 8,084 | 413 | 4.9 | 8,229 | 7,907 | 322 | 3.9 |
| Williamsburg County | Rate Down | 12,573 | 12,019 | 554 | 4.4 | 12,482 | 11,852 | 630 | 5.0 | 12,085 | 11,527 | 558 | 4.6 |
| Chester County | Rate Down | 13,629 | 13,038 | 591 | 4.3 | 13,588 | 12,964 | 624 | 4.6 | 13,172 | 12,629 | 543 | 4.1 |
| Dillon County | Rate Down | 13,005 | 12,457 | 548 | 4.2 | 12,834 | 12,234 | 600 | 4.7 | 12,488 | 12,006 | 482 | 3.9 |
| Georgetown County | Rate Down | 26,512 | 25,463 | 1,049 | 4.0 | 26,214 | 75,007 | 1,192 | 4.5 | 24,986 | 24,068 | 918 | 3.7 |
| Clarendon County | Rate Down | 12,845 | 12,344 | 501 | 3.9 | 12,700 | 12,143 | 557 | 4.4 | 12,426 | 11,955 | 471 | 3.8 |
| Calhoun County | Rate Down | 6,710 | 6,465 | 245 | 3.7 | 6,718 | 6,409 | 269 | 4.0 | 6,563 | 6,300 | 203 | 3.1 |
| Lee County | Rate Down | 6,723 | 6,472 | 251 | 3.7 | 6,664 | 6,393 | 271 | 4.1 | 6,539 | 6,245 | 294 | 4.5 |
| Horry County | Rate Down | 151,918 | 146,385 | 5,533 | 3.6 | 149,253 | 142,07 | 6,406 | 4.3 | 144,733 | 133,975 | 4,758 | 3.3 |
| Lancaster County | Rate Down | 40,613 | 39,162 | 1,451 | 3.6 | 40,585 | 33,977 | 1,608 | 4.0 | 39,140 | 37,959 | 1,181 | 3.0 |
| Union County | Rate Down | 11,854 | 11,423 | 431 | 3.6 | 11,883 | 11,411 | 472 | 4.0 | 11,549 | 11,155 | 394 | 3.4 |
| Darlington County | Rate Down | 30,722 | 29,637 | 1,085 | 3.5 | 30,651 | 29,484 | 1,167 | 3.8 | 29,765 | 28,822 | 943 | 3.2 |
| Sumter County | Rate Down | 45,073 | 43,532 | 1,541 | 3.4 | 45,046 | 43,333 | 1,713 | 3.8 | 43,791 | 42,337 | 1,454 | 3.3 |
| Colleton County | Rate Down | 17,138 | 16,570 | 568 | 3.3 | 17,012 | 16,381 | 631 | 3.7 | 16,561 | 15,994 | 567 | 3.4 |
| Abbeville County | Rate Down | 10,271 | 9,938 | 333 | 3.2 | 10,239 | 9,852 | 387 | 3.8 | 9,928 | 9,625 | 303 | 3.1 |
| Greenwood County | Rate Down | 31,735 | 30,707 | 1,028 | 3.2 | 31,514 | 30,381 | 1,133 | 3.6 | 30,578 | 29,700 | 878 | 2.9 |
| Aiken County | Rate Down | 76,964 | 74,601 | 2,363 | 3.1 | 75,712 | 73,103 | 2,609 | 3.4 | 74,727 | 72,821 | 1,906 | 2.6 |
| Florence County | Rate Down | 67,356 | 65,280 | 2,076 | 3.1 | 67,482 | 65,150 | 2,332 | 3.5 | 65,524 | 63,578 | 1,946 | 3.0 |
| Laurens County | Rate Down | 30,348 | 29,411 | 937 | 3.1 | 30,365 | 29,317 | 1,048 | 3.5 | 29,707 | 28,840 | 867 | 2.9 |
| McCormick County | Rate Down | 3,516 | 3,408 | 108 | 3.1 | 3,495 | 3,366 | 129 | 3.7 | 3,370 | 3,285 | 85 | 2.5 |
| Cherokee County | Rate Down | 25,932 | 25,152 | 780 | 3.0 | 25,835 | 24,947 | 888 | 3.4 | 24,940 | 24,238 | 702 | 2.8 |
| Kershaw County | Rate Down | 29,132 | 28,271 | 861 | 3.0 | 29,225 | 28,252 | 973 | 3.3 | 28,616 | 2,719 | 797 | 2.8 |
| Chesterfield County | Rate Down | 22,492 | 21,830 | 662 | 2.9 | 22,311 | 21,561 | 750 | 3.4 | 21,695 | 21,144 | 551 | 2.5 |
| Edgefield County | Rate Down | 10,917 | 10,601 | 316 | 2.9 | 10,701 | 10,352 | 349 | 3.3 | 10,630 | 10,342 | 288 | 2.7 |
| Richland County | Rate Down | 198,513 | 192,737 | 5,776 | 2.9 | 199,732 | 193,216 | 6,516 | 3.3 | 195,132 | 199,798 | 5,334 | 2.7 |
| York County | Rate Down | 138,164 | 134,142 | 4,022 | 2.9 | 138,144 | 133,679 | 4,465 | 3.2 | 133,613 | 130,072 | 3,541 | 2.7 |
| Anderson County | Rate Down | 91,092 | 88,565 | 2,527 | 2.8 | 91,269 | 88,374 | 2,895 | 3.2 | 89,111 | 86,852 | 2,259 | 2.5 |
| Beaufort County | Rate Down | 77,979 | 75,832 | 2,147 | 2.8 | 76,997 | 74,575 | 2,422 | 3.1 | 75,170 | 73,319 | 1,851 | 2.5 |
| Hampton County | Rate Down | 8,418 | 8,182 | 236 | 2.8 | 8,258 | 7,993 | 265 | 3.2 | 8,162 | 7,933 | 229 | 2.8 |
| Oconee County | Rate Down | 35,946 | 34,938 | 1,008 | 2.8 | 35,681 | 34,564 | 1,117 | 3.1 | 34,457 | 33,563 | 894 | 2.6 |
| Pickens County | Rate Down | 57,149 | 55,552 | 1,597 | 2.8 | 57,302 | 55,464 | 1,838 | 3.2 | 55,911 | 54,498 | 1,413 | 2.5 |
| Saluda County | Rate Down | 8,899 | 8,648 | 251 | 2.8 | 8,814 | 8,523 | 291 | 3.3 | 8,684 | 8,473 | 211 | 2.4 |
| Berkeley County | Rate Down | 103,359 | 100,573 | 2,786 | 2.7 | 103,115 | 99,993 | 3,122 | 3.0 | 99,937 | 97,548 | 2,389 | 2.4 |
| Jasper County | Rate Down | 12,600 | 12,258 | 342 | 2.7 | 12,439 | 12,962 | 377 | 3.0 | 12,166 | 11,884 | 282 | 2.3 |
| Newberry County | Rate Down | 19,010 | 18,503 | 507 | 2.7 | 18,767 | 18,200 | 567 | 3.0 | 18,502 | 18,054 | 448 | 2.4 |
| Dorchester County | Rate Down | 76,682 | 74,667 | 2,015 | 2.6 | 76,520 | 74,222 | 2,298 | 3.0 | 74,169 | 72,428 | 1,741 | 2.3 |
| Greenville County | Rate Down | 253,211 | 246,739 | 6,472 | 2.6 | 253,686 | 246,298 | 7,388 | 2.9 | 247,599 | 241,587 | 5,612 | 2.3 |
| Spartanburg County | Rate Down | 151,460 | 147,471 | 3,989 | 2.6 | 151,800 | 147,345 | 4,455 | 2.9 | 147,521 | 143,972 | 3,549 | 2.4 |
| Lexington County | Rate Down | 148,662 | 144,969 | 3,693 | 2.5 | 149,246 | 145,083 | 4,163 | 2.8 | 146,058 | 142,720 | 3,338 | 2.3 |
| Charleston County | Rate Down | 210,761 | 205,615 | 5,146 | 2.4 | 210,272 | 204,438 | 5,834 | 2.8 | 203,967 | 199,603 | 4,364 | 2.1 |
| Charleston - North Charleston MSA |
Rate Down | 390,802 | 380,855 | 9,947 | 2.5 | 389,907 | 378,653 | 11,254 | 2.9 | 378,073 | 369,579 | 8,494 | 2.2 |
| Columbia MSA | Rate Down | 401,661 | 390,394 | 11,267 | 2.8 | 403,517 | 390,817 | 12,700 | 3.1 | 394,771 | 384,325 | 10,446 | 2.6 |
| Florence MSA | Rate Down | 98,078 | 94,917 | 3,161 | 3.2 | 98,133 | 94,634 | 3,499 | 3.6 | 95,289 | 92,400 | 2,889 | 3.0 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin MSA | Rate Down | 431,800 | 420,267 | 11,533 | 2.7 | 432,622 | 419,453 | 13,169 | 3.0 | 422,382 | 412,177 | 10,151 | 2.4 |
| SEASONALLY ADJUSTED South Carolina | Rate Up | 2,360,091 | 2,281,003 | 79,088 | 3.4 | 2,350,615 | 2,274,299 | 76,316 | 3.2 | 2,318,285 | 2,236,397 | 81,888 | 3.5 |
Current month's estimates are preliminary. All data are subject to revision.