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South Carolina's Employment Situation July 2019

Fri, 08/16/2019

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 2,297,651.

  • That is an increase of 6,484 people over June.
  • That is also an increase of 54,179 people over July 2018.

Unemployment: Unemployment estimates decreased to 81,750 people.

  • That is a decrease of 1,750 people since June 2019 and an increase of 5,602 over July 2018.
  • With that decrease, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate moved lower over the month, from 3.5 percent in June to 3.4 percent in July.
  • Nationally, the unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.7 percent.

Labor force: The state’s estimated labor force (people working plus unemployed people looking for work) increased to 2,379,401.

  • That increase continues an upward trend for the seventh consecutive month.
  • That is an increase of 4,734 people since June.
  • That is an increase of 59,781 individuals over July 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 2,179,300.

  • Industries reporting increases in employment were reported in Manufacturing (+1,900); Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+1,600); Education and Health Services (+1,300); Other Services (+800); Leisure and Hospitality (+300) and Financial Services (+300).
  • Decreases were noticed in Construction (-1,500); Professional and Business Services (-1,400) and Government (-1,400) industries. Information remained flat.

From July 2018 to July 2019, South Carolina’s economy has added 33,200 seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll jobs.

  • Industries marking strong growth were Manufacturing (+9,000); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+8,400); Leisure and Hospitality (+7,000); Education and Health Services (+5,400); Professional and Business Services (+2,400); Government (+2,300); Other Services (+1,900); and Financial Activities (+700).
  • Decreases were seen in Construction (-2,800) and Information (-1,200).

Nonagricultural Employment by Industry (Not Seasonally Adjusted2)

Not seasonally adjusted, nonfarm payroll jobs decreased by 12,500 from June 2019 to July 2019 for a total of 2,181,700. Although, July’s overall total employment declined, due to traditional layoffs and school closings this time of year, modest gains were reported in some industries. The most prominent gain was in the Manufacturing (+2,400) industry.

  • Industries that saw an increase were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+2,000); Financial Activities (+1,300); Education and Health Services (+900); and Leisure and Hospitality (+300). Mining and Logging and Information remained stagnant.
  • Industries reporting declines were Government (-12,800); Professional and Business Services (-4,200); Construction (-2,100) and Other Services (-300).

    Since July 2018, not seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll jobs were up 33,600 overall in South Carolina.

  • Industries marking strong annual gains were Leisure and Hospitality (+9,500); Manufacturing (+8,300); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+7,700); Education and Health Services (+4,500); Government (+2,700); Professional and Business Services (+1,600); Financial Activities (+1,300); Other Services (+1,000) and Mining and Logging (+100).
  • Industries reporting an over the year decline were Construction (-2,100) and Information(-1,000).

 

Key for Note items 1 through 4
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

 

Nonfarm Employment by Industry, Seasonally Adjusted

Statewide

July 2019
        June to July 2019 June to July 2019 July 2018 to July 2019 July 2018 to July 2019
Area July 2019 June 2019 July 2018 # Change % Change # Change % Change
Total Nonfarm Employment 2,179,300 2,177,300 2,146,100 2,000 0.09 33,200 1.55
Construction 100,100 101,600 102,900 -1,500 -1.50 -2,800 -2.72
Manufacturing 257,700 255,800 248,700 1,900 0.74 9,000 3.62
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities0.39% 414,500 412,900 406,100 1,600 0.39 8,400 2.07
Information 27,400 27,400 28,600 0 0.00 -1,200 -4.20
Finance Activities 105,400 105,100 104,700 300 0.28 700 0.67
Professional and Business Services 290,500 291,900 288,100 -1,400 -0.48 2,400 0.83
Education and Health Services 258,800 257,500 253,400 1,300 0.50 5,400 2.13
Leisure and Hospitality 269,800 269,500 262,800 300 0.11 7,000 2.66
Other Services 78,600 77,800 76,700 800 1.02 1,900 2.48
Government 371,900 373,300 369,600 -1,400 -0.38 2,300 0.62

 

Nonfarm Employment by Industry, Not Seasonally Adjusted

Statewide

July 2019
        June to July 2019 June to July 2019 July 2018 to July 2019 July 2018 to July 2019
Area July 2019 June 2019 July 2018 # Change % Change # Change % Change
Total Nonfarm Employment 2,181,700 2,194,200 2,148,100 -12,500 -0.57 33,600 1.56
Mining and Logging 4,600 4,600 4,500 0 0.00 100 2.22
Construction 101,900 104,000 104,000 -2,100 -2.02 -2,100 -2.02
Manufacturing 257,700 255,300 249,400 2,400 0.94 8,300 3.33
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities 415,600 413,600 407,900 2,000 0.48 7,700 1.89
Information 27,600 27,600 28,600 0 0.00 -1,000 -3.50
Financial Activities 107,300 106,000 106,000 1,300 1.23 1,300 1.23
Professional and Business Services 288,900 293,100 287,300 -4,200 -1.43 1,600 0.56
Education and Health Services 255,300 254,400 250,800 900 0.35 4,500 1.79
Leisure and Hospitality 286,000 285,700 276,500 300 .011 9,500 3.44
Other Services 78,100 78,400 77,100 -300 -0.38 1,000 1.30
Government 358,700 371,500 356,000 -12,800 -3.45 2,700 0.76

 

Nonfarm Employment by Area, Seasonally Adjusted

South Carolina & Metropolitan Seasonally Adjusted

July 2019
        June to July 2019 June to July 2019 July 2018 to July 2019 July 2018 to July 2019
Area July 2019 June 2019 July 2018 # Change % Change # Change % Change
Statewide 2,179,300 2,177,300 2,146,100 2,000 0.09 33,200 1.55
Charleston/North Charleston MSA 374,500 374,000 366,100 500 0.13 8,400 2.29
Columbia MSA 403,100 403,300 404,100 -200 -0.05 -1,000 -0.25
Florence MSA 93,000 92,600 91,800 400 0.43 1,200 1.31
Greenville/Anderson/Mauldin MSA 434,600 430,900 423,900 3,700 0.85 10,700 2.52
Hilton Head-Bluffton-Beaufort MSA 84,800 84,600 82,200 200 0.24 2,600 3.16
Myrtle Beach MSA 177,800 177,900 173,600 -100 -0.06 4,500 2.60
Spartanburg MSA 163,200 162,400 159,600 800 0.49 3,600 2.26
Sumter MSA 40,800 41,000 40,500 -200 -0.49 300 0.74

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.

Nonfarm Employment by Area, Not Seasonally Adjusted

South Carolina & Metropolitan Not Seasonally Adjusted

July 2019
        June to July 2019 June to July 2019 July 2018 to July 2019 July 2018 to July 2019
Area July 2019 June 2019 July 2018 # Change % Change # Change % Change
Statewide 2,181,700 2,194,200 2,148,100 -12,500 -0.57 33,600 1.56
Charleston/North Charleston MSA 375,900 376,700 368,400 -800 -0.21 7,500 2.04
Columbia MSA 402,100 403,600 402,300 -1,500 -0.37 -200 -0.05
Florence MSA 92,200 92,700 90,700 -500 -0.54 1,500 1.65
Greenville MSA 430,300 432,200 420,200 -1,900 -0.44 10,100 2.40
Hilton Head-Bluffton-Beaufort MSA 87,700 87,500 84,600 200 0.23 3,100 3.66
Myrtle Beach MSA/Conway/N. Myrtle Beach MSA 188,300 188,400 183,300 -100 -0.05 5,000 2.73
Spartanburg MSA 161,200 162,100 157,400 -900 -0.56 3,800 2.41
Sumter MSA 40,700 41,100 40,300 -400 -0.97 400 0.99

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.

 

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

LOCAL AREA UNEMPLOYMENT ESTIMATES BY COUNTY, MSA, AND STATE

(NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED)
Area Rate Up/Rate Down/Same Labor Force July 2019 Employment July 2019 Unemployment Level July 2019 Unemployment Rate Labor Force June 2019 Employment     June 2019 Unemployment Level June. 2019 Unemployment Rate Labor Force July 2018 Employment     July 2018 Unemployment Level     July 2018 Unemployment Rate
Bamberg County

Rate Down

 5,035 4,707 328 6.5 5,057 4,690 367 7.3 4,972 4,639 333 6.7
Allendale County Rate Down 2,803 2,642 161 5.7 2,793 2,620 173 6.2 2,753 2,601 152 5.5
Marlboro County Rate Down 9,341 8,8825 516 5.5 9,367 8,844 523 5.6 9,203 8,712 491 5.3
Orangeburg County Rate Down 34,889 33,046 1,843 5.3 35,030 33,061 1,969 5.6 34,480 32,572 1,908 5.5
Williamsburg County Rate Down 12,541 11,910 631 5.0 12,588 11,901 687 5.5 12,432 11,718 714 5.7
Marion County Rate Down 13,391 12,738 653 4.9 13,381 12,700 681 5.1 13,182 12,461 721 5.5
Chester County Rate Down 13,855 13,185 670 4.8 13,902 13,179 723 5.2 13,410 12,705 705 5.3
Fairfield County Rate Down 9,929 9,438 481 4.8 9,874 9,354 520 5.3 9,879 9,307 572 5.8
Barnwell County Rate Down 8,508 8,106 402 4.7 8,549 8,105 444 5.2 8,383 7,969 414 4.9
Clarendon County Rate Down 12,875 12,287 589 4.6 12,893 12,255 638 4.9 12,697 12,063 634 5.0
Lee County Rate Down 6,790 6,476 314 4.6 6,766 6,435 331 4.9 6,681 6,361 320 4.8
Dillon County Rate Down 12,969 12,390 579 4.5 12,958 12,329 629 4.9 12,787 12,179 608 4.8
Calhoun County Rate Down 6,846 6,570 276 4.0 6,810 6,506 304 4.5 6,764 6,470 294 4.3
Darlington County Rate Down 31,123 29,874 1,249 4.0 31,052 29,660 1,392 4.5 30,376 29,036 1,340 4.4
Union County Rate Down 12,016 11,538 478 4.0 12,006 11,486 520 4.3 11,614 11,115 499 4.3
Abbeville County Rate Down 10,200 9,813 387 3.8 10,302 9,866 436 4.2 10,084 9,649 435 4.3
Georgetown County Rate Down 26,617 25,602 1,015 3.8 26,693 25,556 1,137 4.3 26,236 25,078 1,158 4.4
Sumter County Rate Down 45,364 43,644 1,720 3.8 45,522 43,591 1,931 4.2 44,555 42,639 1,916 4.3
Cherokee County Rate Down 25,815 24,858 957 3.7 25,964 24,935 1,029 4.0 25,485 24,415 1,070 4.2
Lancaster County Rate Down 41,139 39,597 1,542 3.7 41,333 39,631 1,702 4.1 39,737 38,139 1,598 4.0
Colleton County Rate Down 17,178 16,556 322 3.6 17,252 16,560 692 4.0 16,917 16,197 720 4.3
Greenwood County Rate Down 31,460 30,338 1,122 3.6 31,693 30,424 1,269 4.0 31,038 29,854 1,184 3.8
Kershaw County Rate Down 29,702 28,669 1,033 3.5 29,548 28,425 1,123 3.8 29,394 28,274 1,120 3.8
Florence County Rate Down 67,939 65,673 2,286 3.4 67,975 66,435 2,540 3.7 66,384 63,807 2,577 3.9
Hampton County Rate Down 8,598 8,308 290 3.4 8,542 8,216 326 3.8 8,404 8,078 326 3.9
Horry County Rate Down 160,198 154,763 5,435 3.4 159,649 153,507 6,142 3.8 154,871 148,983 5,888 3.8
Laurens County Rate Down 30,870 29,823 1,047 3.4 30,799 29,651 1,148 3.7 29,883 28,751 1,132 3.8
McCormick County Rate Down 3,478 3,359 119 3.4 3,497 3,373 124 3.5 3,419 3,297 122 3.6
Allen County Rate Down 76,143 73,593 2,550 3.3 76,178 73,306 2,872 3.8 74,080 71,419 2,661 3.6
Chesterfield County Rate Down 22,487 21,734 753 3.3 22,552 21,734 818 3.6 22,040 21,274 766 3.5
Oconee County Rate Down 35,878 34,702 1,176 3.3 36,003 34,715 1,288 3.6 35,335 34,044 1,291 3.7
Edgefield County Rate Down 10,865 10,519 346 3.2 10,828 10,442 386 3.6 10,571 10,188 383 3.6
Newberry County Rate Down 19,098 18,487 611 3.2 19,001 18,360 641 3.4 18,838 18,213 625 3.3
Pickens County Rate Down 58,136 56,250 1,886 3.2 58,168 56,006 2,162 3.7 56,411 54,245 2,166 3.8
Richland County Rate Down 201,312 194,838 6,474 3.2 200,971 198,646 7,325 3.6 199,777 192,466 7,311 3.7
York County Rate Down 139,949 135,499 4,450 3.2 140,674 135,789 4,885 3.5 135,188 130,518 4,670 3.5
Anderson County Rate Down 92,560 89,689 2,871 3.1 92,476 89,227 3,248 3.5 89,687 85,517 3,170 3.5
Beaufort County Rate Down 82,024 79,564 2,460 3.0 81,280 78,560 2,720 3.3 78,468 75,801 2,667 3.4
Jasper County Rate Down 13,274 12,874 400 3.0 13,182 12,744 438 3.3 12,639 12,234 405 3.2
Saluda County Rate Down 9,150 8,877 273 3.0 9,009 8,700 309 3.4 9,002 8,712 290 3.2
Spartanburg County Rate Down 153,569 148,908 4,661 3.0 153,436 148,194 5.242 3.4 148,614 143,486 5,128 3.5
Berkeley County Rate Down 105,781 102,742 3,039 2.9 105,371 101,987 3,384 3.2 102,806 99,515 3,291 3.2
Dorchester County Rate Down 78,536 76,301 2,235 2.8 78,208 75,736 2,472 3.2 76,296 73,889 2,407 3.2
Greenville County Rate Down 256,849 249,775 7,074 2.8 256,571 248,568 8,003 3.1 248,694 240,975 7,719 3.1
Charleston County Rate Down 215,986 210,241 5,745 2.7 215,144 208,873 6,271 2.9 209,594 203,378 6,216 3.0
Lexington County Rate Down 150,914 146,841 4,073 2.7 150,366 145,795 4,571 3.0 149,326 144,851 4,475 3.0
Charleston -
North Charleston MSA		 Rate Down 400,303 389,284 11,013 2.8 398,723 386,596 12,127 3.0 388,696 376,752 11,914 3.1
Columbia MSA Rate Down 407,843 395,233 12,610 3.1 406,578 392,426 14,152 3.5 404,142 380,080 34,062 3.5
Florence MSA Rate Down 99,082 95,547 3,535 3.6 99,027 96,095 3,932 4.0 96,760 92,843 3,917 4.0
Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin MSA Rate Down 438,415 425,537 12,878 2.9 438,014 423,453 14,561 3.3 424,675 410,488 14,187 3.3
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED South Carolina Rate Down 2,379,401 2,297,651 81,750 3.4 2,374,667 2,291,167 83,500 3.5 2,353,384 2,268,794 84,590 3.6

Current month's estimates are preliminary. All data are subject to revision.