MyBenefits
Apply for and certify your claim here.
Fri, 07/19/2019
South Carolina’s Employment Situation
June 2019
Number of South Carolinians Working Sets Another Record
Payroll Employment Levels Continue Upward Trend
I. Household Survey1
Employment: The monthly survey of households across the state estimated the number of South Carolinians working moved significantly higher, establishing a new record of 2,291,363.
That is an increase of 5,393 people over May.
That is also an increase of 50,799 people over June 2018.
Unemployment: Unemployment estimates increased to 83,495 people.
That is an increase of 844 people since May 2019 and an increase of 6,054 over June 2018.
With that increase, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate showed no change over the month, remaining at 3.5 percent.
Nationally, the unemployment rate increased to 3.7 percent from May’s estimate of 3.6 percent.
Labor force: The state’s estimated labor force (people working plus unemployed people looking for work) increased to 2,374,858.
That increase continues an upward trend for the sixth consecutive month.
That is an increase of 6,237 people since May.
That is an increase of 56,853 individuals over June 2018.
II. Current Employment Survey2
Nonagricultural Payroll Employment by Industry (Seasonally Adjusted3)
The Current Employment Survey of businesses in South Carolina marked an increase of 2,000 nonfarm payroll jobs over the month to a record high level of 2,179,800.
Industries reporting increases in employment were reported in Construction (+1,300); Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+800); Government (+800); Financial Activities (+300); Other Services (+200) and Leisure and Hospitality (+100).
Decreases were noticed in the Education and Health Services (-700); Manufacturing (-300); Professional and Business Services (-300) and Information (-200) industries.
From June 2018 to June 2019, South Carolina’s economy has added 35,900 seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs.
Industries marking strong growth were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+7,500) Manufacturing (+7,100); Leisure and Hospitality (+6,900); Government (+6,200); Education and Health Services (+5,000); Professional and Business Services (+1,800); Construction (+900); Financial Activities (+800); and Other Services (+500).
Decreases were seen in Information (-800).
Nonagricultural Employment by Industry (Not Seasonally Adjusted4)
Not seasonally adjusted, nonfarm payroll jobs increased by 8,500 from May 2019 to June 2019, for a total of 2,197,000. Growth was concentrated in the service-providing industries. The most prominent gain was in the Leisure and Hospitality (+6,000).
Industries that saw steady upward movement were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+3,900); Construction (+3,600); Other Services (+1,400); Financial Activities (+1,200); Professional and Business Services (+1,100); and Mining and Logging (+100). Information remained stagnant.
Industries reporting declines were Education and Health Services (-4,000); Government (-4,000); and Manufacturing (-800).
Since June 2018, not seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs were up 33,200 overall in South Carolina.
Industries marking strong annual gains were Leisure and Hospitality (+7,500); Manufacturing (+6,300); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+6,200); Government (+5,900); Education and Health Services (+4,100); Construction (+1,400); Professional and Business Services (+1,000); Financial Activities (+900); Other Services (+700) and Mining and Logging (+100).
The only industry reporting a decline was Information (-900).
| Note | Explanation |
|---|---|
| (1) | Household Survey (Current Population Survey): is a monthly survey of about 60,000 households conducted by the Census Bureau for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This survey provides monthly statistics on employment, unemployment, and related subjects analyzed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. |
| (2) | Current Employment Statistics Survey: is a monthly survey of about 40,000 employers which yields estimates of nonagricultural wage and salary employment, hours, and earnings by industry. |
| (3) | Seasonally Adjusted: 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. |
| (4) | Not Seasonally Adjusted: Effects of regular or seasonal patterns have not been removed from these data |
| May to June 2019 | May to June 2019 | June 2018 to June 2019 | June 2018 to June 2019 | ||||
| Area | June 2019 | May 2019 | June 2018 | # Change | % Change | # Change | % Change |
| Total Nonfarm Employment | 2,179,800 | 2,177,800 | 2,143,900 | 2,000 | 0.09 | 35,900 | 1.67 |
| Construction | 102,000 | 100,700 | 101,100 | 1,300 | 1.27 | 900 | 0.89 |
| Manufacturing | 255,200 | 255,500 | 248,100 | -300 | -0.12 | 7,100 | 2.86 |
| Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 413,500 | 412,700 | 406,000 | 800 | 0.19 | 7,500 | 1.85 |
| Information | 27,400 | 27,600 | 28,200 | -200 | -0.73 | -800 | -2.84 |
| Finance Activities | 105,400 | 105,100 | 104,600 | 300 | 0.28 | 800 | 0.76 |
| Professional and Business Services | 293,600 | 293,900 | 291,800 | -300 | -0.10 | 1,800 | 0.62 |
| Education and Health Services | 257,300 | 258,000 | 252,300 | -700 | -0.27 | 5,000 | 1.98 |
| Leisure and Hospitality | 268,600 | 268,500 | 261,700 | 100 | 0.04 | 6,900 | 2.64 |
| Other Services | 77,600 | 77,400 | 77,100 | 200 | 0.26 | 500 | 0.65 |
| Government | 374,700 | 373,900 | 368,500 | 800 | 0.21 | 6,200 | 1.68 |
| May to June 2019 | May to June 2019 | June 2018 to June 2019 | June 2018 to June 2019 | ||||
| Area | June 2019 | May 2019 | June 2018 | # Change | % Change | # Change | % Change |
| Total Nonfarm Employment | 2,197,000 | 2,188,500 | 2,163,800 | 8,500 | 0.39 | 33,200 | 1.53 |
| Mining and Logging | 4,600 | 4,500 | 4,500 | 100 | 2.22 | 100 | 2.22 |
| Construction | 104,000 | 100,400 | 102,600 | 3,600 | 3.59 | 1,400 | 1.36 |
| Manufacturing | 255,100 | 255,900 | 248,800 | -800 | -0.31 | 6,300 | 2.53 |
| Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 414,600 | 410,700 | 408,400 | 3,900 | 0.95 | 6,200 | 1.52 |
| Information | 27,600 | 27,600 | 28,500 | 0 | 0.00 | -900 | -3.16 |
| Financial Activities | 106,600 | 105,400 | 105,700 | 1,200 | 1.14 | 900 | 0.85 |
| Professional and Business Services | 294,500 | 293,400 | 293,500 | 1,100 | 0.37 | 1,000 | 0.34 |
| Education and Health Services | 254,500 | 258,500 | 250,400 | -4,000 | -1.55 | 4,100 | 1.64 |
| Leisure and Hospitality | 284,500 | 278,500 | 277,000 | 6,000 | 2.15 | 7,500 | 2.71 |
| Other Services | 78,400 | 77,000 | 77,700 | 1,400 | 1.82 | 700 | 0.90 |
| Government | 372,600 | 376,600 | 366,700 | -4 000 | -1.06 | 5,900 | 1.61 |
| May to June 2019 | May to June 2019 | June 2018 to June 2019 | June 2018 to June 2019 | ||||
| Area | June 2019 | May 2019 | June 2018 | # Change | % Change | # Change | % Change |
| Statewide | 2,179,800 | 2,177,800 | 2,143,900 | 2,000 | 0.09 | 35,900 | 1.67 |
| Charleston/North Charleston MSA | 373,500 | 372,600 | 366,400 | 900 | 0.24 | 7,100 | 1.94 |
| Columbia MSA | 403,900 | 403,600 | 402,400 | 300 | 0.07 | 1,500 | 0.37 |
| Florence MSA | 2,400 | 22,300 | 91,100 | 100 | 0.11 | 1,300 | 1.43 |
| Greenville/Anderson/Mauldin MSA | 430,000 | 429,300 | 420,500 | 700 | 0.16 | 3,500 | 0.82 |
| Hilton Head-Bluffton-Beaufort MSA | 84,500 | 84,200 | 82,100 | 300 | 0.36 | 2,400 | 2.92 |
| Myrtle Beach MSA | 178,600 | 179,100 | 172,600 | -500 | -0.28 | 6,000 | 3.48 |
| Spartanburg MSA | 162,400 | 181,800 | 158,400 | 600 | 0.37 | 4,000 | 2.53 |
| Sumter MSA | 40,900 | 41,000 | 40,400 | -100 | -0.24 | 500 | 1.24 |
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.
| May to June 2019 | May to June 2019 | June 2018 to June 2019 | June 2018 to June 2019 | ||||
| Area | June 2019 | May 2019 | June 2018 | # Change | % Change | # Change | % Change |
| Statewide | 2,197,000 | 2,188,500 | 2,163,800 | 8,500 | 0.39 | 33,200 | 1.53 |
| Charleston/North Charleston MSA | 376,400 | 374,600 | 370,000 | 1,800 | 0.48 | 6,400 | 1.73 |
| Columbia MSA | 404,300 | 405,000 | 401,800 | -700 | -0.17 | 2,500 | 0.62 |
| Florence MSA | 92,600 | 93,100 | 91,300 | -500 | -0.54 | 1,300 | 1.42 |
| Greenville MSA | 422,300 | 431,700 | 427,700 | 600 | 0.14 | 4,600 | 1.08 |
| Hilton Head-Bluffton-Beaufort MSA | 87,500 | 85,800 | 84,700 | 1,700 | 1.98 | 2,800 | 3.31 |
| Myrtle Beach MSA/Conway/N. Myrtle Beach MSA | 189,100 | 184,200 | 184,000 | 4,900 | 2.66 | 5,100 | 2.77 |
| Spartanburg MSA | 162,300 | 162,000 | 158,600 | 300 | 0.19 | 3,700 | 2.33 |
| Sumter MSA | 41,000 | 41,300 | 4,500 | -300 | -0.73 | 500 | 1.23 |
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 | June 2019 Employment | June 2019 Unemployment Level | June 2019 Unemployment Rate | Labor Force | May 2019 Employment | May 2019 Unemployment Level | May 2019 Unemployment Rate | Labor Force | June 2018 Employment | June 2018 Unemployment Level | June 2018 Unemployment Rate |
| Bamberg County |
Rate Up |
5,054 | 4,697 | 357 | 7.2 | 5,057 | 4,737 | 320 | 6.3 | 4,978 | 4,634 | 344 | 6.9 |
| Allendale County | Rate Up | 2,798 | 2,625 | 173 | 6.2 | 2,825 | 2,663 | 162 | 5.7 | 2,762 | 2,598 | 164 | 5.9 |
| Marlboro County | Rate Up | 9,382 | 8,859 | 523 | 5.6 | 9,319 | 8,845 | 473 | 5.1 | 9,209 | 8,705 | 504 | 5.5 |
| Orangeburg County | Rate Up | 35,036 | 33,117 | 1,959 | 5.6 | 34,900 | 33,128 | 1,772 | 5.1 | 34,479 | 32,524 | 1,955 | 5.7 |
| Williamsburg County | Rate Up | 12,602 | 11,915 | 687 | 5.5 | 12,539 | 11,936 | 603 | 4.8 | 12,404 | 11,705 | 699 | 5.6 |
| Fairfield County | Rate Up | 9,891 | 9,371 | 520 | 5.3 | 9,859 | 9,374 | 485 | 4.9 | 9,804 | 9,220 | 584 | 6.0 |
| Barnwell County | Rate Up | 8,538 | 8,114 | 444 | 5.2 | 8,533 | 8,116 | 417 | 4.9 | 8,392 | 7,959 | 423 | 5.0 |
| Chester County | Rate Up | 13,892 | 13,170 | 722 | 5.2 | 13,755 | 13,116 | 639 | 4.6 | 13,428 | 12,755 | 673 | 5.0 |
| Marion County | Rate Up | 13,399 | 12,718 | 681 | 5.1 | 13,279 | 12,661 | 618 | 4.7 | 13,147 | 12,435 | 712 | 5.4 |
| Clarendon County | Rate Up | 12,904 | 12,265 | 638 | 4.9 | 12,926 | 12,342 | 584 | 4.5 | 12,707 | 12,045 | 661 | 5.2 |
| Lee County | Rate Up | 6,772 | 6,441 | 331 | 4.9 | 6,761 | 6,476 | 285 | 4.2 | 6,675 | 6,334 | 341 | 5.1 |
| Dillon County | Rate Up | 12,972 | 12,343 | 629 | 4.8 | 13,041 | 12,443 | 598 | 4.6 | 12,787 | 12,163 | 624 | 4.9 |
| Calhoun County | Rate Up | 6,821 | 6,517 | 304 | 4.5 | 6,800 | 6,534 | 266 | 3.9 | 6,716 | 6,412 | 304 | 4.5 |
| Darlington County | Rate Up | 31,029 | 29,637 | 1,392 | 4.5 | 30,976 | 29,738 | 1,238 | 4.0 | 30,347 | 28,986 | 1,361 | 4.5 |
| Union County | Rate Up | 12,012 | 11,492 | 520 | 4.3 | 11,893 | 11,409 | 484 | 4.1 | 11,659 | 11,143 | 516 | 4.4 |
| Abbeville County | Rate Up | 10,315 | 9,880 | 435 | 4.2 | 10,206 | 9,812 | 394 | 3.9 | 10,106 | 9,665 | 441 | 4.4 |
| Georgetown County | Rate Up | 26,743 | 25,607 | 1,135 | 4.2 | 25,545 | 25,457 | 1,078 | 4.1 | 26,230 | 25,039 | 1,191 | 4.5 |
| Sumter County | Rate Up | 45,471 | 43,539 | 1,932 | 4.2 | 45,256 | 43,525 | 1,731 | 3.8 | 44,383 | 42,399 | 1,984 | 4.5 |
| Lancaster County | Rate Up | 41,302 | 39,602 | 1,700 | 4.1 | 40,981 | 39,393 | 1,588 | 3.9 | 39,941 | 38,307 | 1,634 | 4.1 |
| Cherokee County | Rate Up | 26,000 | 24,971 | 1,029 | 4.0 | 25,726 | 24,810 | 916 | 3.6 | 25,448 | 24,406 | 1,042 | 4.1 |
| Colleton County | Rate Up | 17,267 | 16,573 | 694 | 4.0 | 17,147 | 16,519 | 628 | 3.7 | 15,930 | 16,194 | 736 | 4.3 |
| Greenwood County | Rate Up | 31,737 | 30,469 | 1,268 | 4.0 | 31,510 | 30,339 | 1,171 | 3.7 | 31,103 | 29,874 | 1,229 | 4.0 |
| Aiken County | Rate Up | 75,154 | 73,293 | 2,871 | 3.8 | 75,821 | 73,136 | 2,685 | 3.5 | 74,494 | 71,694 | 2,800 | 3.8 |
| Hampton County | Rate Up | 8,551 | 8,226 | 325 | 3.8 | 8,523 | 8,249 | 274 | 3.2 | 8,379 | 8,049 | 330 | 3.9 |
| Horry County | Rate Up | 160,182 | 154,041 | 6,141 | 3.8 | 155,281 | 148,445 | 5,835 | 3.8 | 154,325 | 148,170 | 6,155 | 4.0 |
| Kershaw County | Rate Up | 29,597 | 28,476 | 1,121 | 3.8 | 29,465 | 28,472 | 993 | 3.4 | 29,162 | 28,007 | 1,155 | 4.0 |
| Florence County | Rate Up | 67,921 | 65,383 | 2,538 | 3.7 | 67,654 | 65,314 | 2,340 | 3.5 | 66,346 | 63,747 | 2,599 | 3.9 |
| Laurens County | Rate Up | 30,796 | 29,648 | 1,148 | 3.7 | 30,572 | 29,491 | 1,081 | 3.5 | 30,203 | 29,009 | 1,194 | 4.0 |
| Pickens County | Rate Up | 58,165 | 56,001 | 2,164 | 3.7 | 57,525 | 56,572 | 1,953 | 3.4 | 56,956 | 54,736 | 2,220 | 3.9 |
| Chesterfield County | Rate Up | 22,572 | 21,754 | 818 | 3.6 | 22,519 | 21,772 | 747 | 3.3 | 22,089 | 21,290 | 799 | 3.6 |
| Edgefield County | Rate Up | 10,825 | 10,440 | 385 | 3.6 | 10,843 | 10,482 | 361 | 3.3 | 10,634 | 10,232 | 402 | 3.8 |
| Oconee County | Rate Up | 36,044 | 34,757 | 1,287 | 3.6 | 35,836 | 34,673 | 1,163 | 3.2 | 35,414 | 34,095 | 1,319 | 3.7 |
| Richland County | Rate Up | 201,325 | 194,001 | 7,324 | 3.6 | 199,773 | 193,116 | 6,657 | 3.3 | 198,099 | 190,552 | 7,547 | 3.8 |
| Anderson County | Rate Up | 92,468 | 89,221 | 3,247 | 3.5 | 91,570 | 88,600 | 2,970 | 3.2 | 90,566 | 87,277 | 3,289 | 3.6 |
| McCormick County | Rate Up | 3,501 | 3,377 | 124 | 3.5 | 3,475 | 3,360 | 115 | 3.3 | 3,429 | 3,302 | 127 | 3.7 |
| York County | Rate Up | 140,574 | 135,692 | 4,882 | 3.5 | 139,248 | 134,729 | 4,519 | 3.2 | 135,978 | 131,118 | 4,860 | 3.6 |
| Newberry County | Rate Up | 19,032 | 18,391 | 641 | 3.4 | 19,147 | 18,545 | 602 | 3.1 | 18,807 | 18,147 | 660 | 3.5 |
| Saluda County | Rate Up | 9,022 | 8,713 | 309 | 3.4 | 9,167 | 8,882 | 285 | 3.1 | 8,940 | 8,636 | 304 | 3.4 |
| Spartanburg County | Rate Up | 153,510 | 142,268 | 5,241 | 3.4 | 151,799 | 147,184 | 4,615 | 3.0 | 149,071 | 143,803 | 3,266 | 3.5 |
| Beaufort County | Rate Up | 81,274 | 78,558 | 2,716 | 3.3 |
79,452 |
76,942 | 2,510 | 3.2 | 78,059 | 75,278 | 2,781 | 3.6 |
| Jasper County | Rate Up | 13,181 | 12,743 | 438 | 3.3 | 12,903 | 12,512 | 391 | 3.0 | 12,603 | 12,187 | 416 | 3.3 |
| Berkeley County | Rate Up | 105,266 | 101,887 | 3,379 | 3.2 | 103,996 | 100,831 | 3,165 | 3.0 | 102,304 | 99,065 | 3,439 | 3.4 |
| Dorchester County | Rate Up | 78,135 | 15,661 | 2,474 | 3.2 | 77,237 | 74,906 | 2,331 | 3.0 | 76,104 | 73,365 | 2,539 | 3.3 |
| Greenville County | Rate Up | 256,550 | 248,347 | 8,003 | 3.1 | 294,174 | 246,684 | 7,490 | 2.9 | 251,232 | 243,090 | 8,142 | 3.2 |
| Lexington County | Rate Up | 150,622 | 146,036 | 4,566 | 3.0 | 149,986 | 145,744 | 4,242 | 2.8 | 148,210 | 202,662 | 6,419 | 3.1 |
| Charleston County | Rate Up | 214,987 | 208,671 | 6,266 | 2.9 | 212,463 | 206,594 | 5,869 | 2.8 | 209,081 | 202,662 | 6,419 | 3.1 |
| Charleston - North Charleston MSA |
Rate Up | 398,338 | 386,219 | 12,119 | 3.0 | 393,696 | 382,331 | 11,365 | 2.9 | 387,689 | 375,292 | 12,397 | 3.2 |
| Columbia MSA | Rate Up | 407,278 | 393,134 | 14,144 | 3.5 | 405,050 | 392,122 | 12,928 | 3.2 | 400,931 | 386,327 | 14,604 | 3.6 |
| Florence MSA | Rate Up | 98,990 | 95,020 | 3,930 | 4.0 | 98,630 | 95,052 | 3,578 | 3.6 | 96,693 | 92,733 | 3,960 | 4.1 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin MSA | Rate Up | 437,979 | 423,417 | 14,562 | 3.3 | 433,841 | 420,347 | 13,494 | 3.1 | 428,957 | 414,112 | 14,845 | 3.5 |
| SEASONALLY ADJUSTED South Carolina | Rate Up | 2,374,858 | 2,291,363 | 83,495 | 3.5 | 2,368,621 | 2,285,970 | 82,651 | 3.5 | 2,318,005 | 2,240,564 | 77,441 | 3.3 |
Current month's estimates are preliminary. All data are subject to revision.