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South Carolina's Employment Situation October 2019

Tue, 11/19/2019

   South Carolina’s Employment Situation     

October 2019

Number of South Carolinians Working Continues Record Setting Pace

Unemployment Rate Remains at All Time Low

 

I. Household Survey(1)

Employment: The monthly survey of households across the state estimated the number of South Carolinians working moved substantially higher, establishing a new record of 2,318,762.

  • That is a considerable increase of 7,191 people over September 2019.
  • That is also a significant increase of 64,392 people over October 2018.

Unemployment: Unemployment estimates decreased to 62,363 people.

  • That is a decrease of 6,823 people since September 2019 and a decrease of 12,567 over October 2018.
  • With that decrease, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate moved lower over the month, from 2.9 percent in September to an historic low of 2.6 percent in October.
  • Nationally, the unemployment rate increased from 3.5 percent in September to 3.6 percent in October.

Labor force: The state’s estimated labor force (people working plus unemployed people looking for work) increased modestly to 2,381,125.

  • That is an increase of 368 people since September 2019.
  • That is an increase of 51,825 individuals over October 2018.

II. Current Employment Survey2

Nonagricultural Employment by Industry (Seasonally Adjusted3)

The Current Employment Survey of businesses in South Carolina marked an increase of 4,200 nonfarm payroll jobs over the month to a record high level of 2,185,000.

  • Industries reporting increases in employment were reported Leisure and Hospitality (+2,300); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+2,200); Financial Activities (+1,100); Education and Health Services (+700); Government (+600); Construction (+500); and Other Services (+300).
  • Decreases were noticed in the Professional and Business Services (-2,600); Manufacturing         (-700); and Information (-200) industries.

From October 2018 to October 2019, South Carolina’s economy has added 30,800 seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs.

  • Industries with strong growth were Leisure and Hospitality (+8,000); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+7,900); Manufacturing (+6,700); Government (+6,600); Education and Health Services (+3,900); Other Services (+1,800); Financial Activities (+1,100); and Construction (+1,000).
  • Decreases were seen in Professional and Business Services (-5,400); and Information (-1,000).

Nonagricultural Employment by Industry (Not Seasonally Adjusted2)

Not seasonally adjusted, nonfarm payroll employment increased by +11,800 from September 2019 to October 2019 for a total of 2,188,100. The most prominent gains were in the Government (+3,700) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+3,700) industries.

  • Other industries that saw increases were Education and Health Services (+2,000); Financial Activities (+1,200); Construction (+1,100); Professional and Business (+1,100); Leisure and Hospitality (+600); and Other Services (+200).
  • Industries reporting declines were Manufacturing (-1,700) and Information (-100). Mining and Logging remained flat.

Since October 2018, not seasonally adjusted, nonfarm jobs were up 29,600 overall in South Carolina.

  • Industries marking strong annual gains were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+8,500); Leisure and Hospitality (+7,600); Government (+6,800); Manufacturing (+6,200); Education and Health Services (+3,700); Other Services (+1,600); Financial Activities (+1,100); Construction (+1,100); and Mining and Logging (+200).
  • Industries reporting an over the year decline were Professional and Business Services (-6,200) 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

October 2019
        Sept. to Oct. 2019 Sept. to Oct. 2019 Oct. 2018 to Oct. 2019 Oct. 2018 to Oct. 2019
Area October 2019 September 2019 October 2018 # Change % Change # Change % Change
Total Nonfarm Employment 2,185,000 2,180,800 2,154,200 4,200 0.19 30,800 1.34
Construction 102,700 102,200 101,700 500 0.49 1,000 0.98
Manufacturing 255,800 256,500 249,100 -700 -0.27 6,700 2.69
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities0.39% 416,800 414,600 408,900 2,200 0.53 7,900 1.93
Information 27,100 27,300 28,100 -200 -0.74 -1,000 -3.56
Finance Activities 105,600 104,500 104,500 1,100 1.04 1,100 1.05
Professional and Business Services 290,100 292,700 295,500 -2,600 -0.90 -5,400 -1.83
Education and Health Services 258,900 258,200 255,000 700 0.27 3,900 1.53
Leisure and Hospitality 269,800 267,500 261,800 2,300 0.85 8,000 3.06
Other Services 77,800 77,500 76,000 300 0.39 1,800 2.37
Government 375,800 375,200 369,200 600 0.16 6,600 1.79

 

Nonfarm Employment by Industry, Not Seasonally Adjusted

Statewide

October 2019
        Sept. to Oct. 2019 Sept. to Oct. 2019 Oct. 2018 to Oct. 2019 Oct. 2018 to Oct. 2019 
Area October 2019 September 2019 October 2018 # Change % Change # Change % Change
Total Nonfarm Employment 2,188,100 2,176,300 2,158,500 11,800 0.54 29,600 1.37
Mining and Logging 4,600 4,600 4,400 0 0.00 200 4.55
Construction 102,800 101,700 101,700 1,100 1.08 1,100 1.08
Manufacturing 254,900 256,600 248,700 -1,700 -0.66 6,200 2.49
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities 416,300 412,600 407,800 3,700 0.90 8,500 2.08
Information 27,000 27,100 28,000 -100 -0.37 -1,000 -3.57
Financial Activities 105,600 104,400 104,500 1,200 1.15 1,100 1.05
Professional and Business Services 292,100 291,000 298,300 1,100 0.38 -6,200 -2.08
Education and Health Services 261,000 259,000 257,300 2,000 0.77 3,700 1.44
Leisure and Hospitality 266,600 266,000 259,000 600 0.23 7,600 2.93
Other Services 77,700 77,500 76,100 200 0.26 1,600 2.10
Government 379,500 375,800 372,700 3,700 0.98 6,800 1.82

 

Nonfarm Employment by Area, Seasonally Adjusted

South Carolina & Metropolitan Seasonally Adjusted

October 2019
        Sept. to Oct. 2019 Sept. to Oct. 2019 Oct. 2018 to Oct. 2019 Oct. 2018 to Oct. 2019
Area October 2019 September 2019 October 2018 # Change % Change # Change % Change
Statewide 2,185,000 2,180,800 2,154,200 4,200 0.19 30,800 1.43
Charleston/North Charleston MSA 370,800 371,400 369,200 -600 -0.16 1,600 0.43
Columbia MSA 402,400 403,400 401,800 -1,000 -0.25 600 0.15
Florence MSA 92,600 92,600 91,700 0 0.00 900 0.98
Greenville/Anderson/Mauldin MSA 429,800 431,100 424,300 -1,300 -0.30 5,500 1.30
Hilton Head-Bluffton-Beaufort MSA 86,700 85,900 82,900 800 0.92 3,800 4.58
Myrtle Beach MSA 182,100 180,100 173,300 2,000 1.10 8,800 5.08
Spartanburg MSA 162,800 163,000 158,500 -200 -0.12 4,300 2.71
Sumter MSA 41,200 40,900 40,700 300 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.

Nonfarm Employment by Area, Not Seasonally Adjusted

South Carolina & Metropolitan Not Seasonally Adjusted

October 2019
        Sept. to Oct. 2019 Sept. to Oct. 2019 Oct. 2018 to Oct. 2019 Oct. 2018 to Oct. 2019
Area October 2019 September 2019 October 2018 # Change % Change # Change % Change
Statewide 2,188,100 2,176,300 2,158,500 11,800 0.54 29,600 1.37
Charleston/North Charleston MSA 371,200 371,300 370,200 -100 -0.03 1,000 0.27
Columbia MSA 404,600 402,700 404,200 1,900 0.47 400 0.10
Florence MSA 92,500 92,300 91,700 200 0.22 800 0.87
Greenville MSA 432,000 429,500 426,800 2,500 0.58 5,200 1.22
Hilton Head-Bluffton-Beaufort MSA 86,200 85,200 82,100 1,000 1.17 4,100 4.99
Myrtle Beach MSA/Conway/N. Myrtle Beach MSA 181,200 181,300 172,300 -100 -0.06 8,900 5.17
Spartanburg MSA 163,600 163,100 159,600 500 0.31 4,000 2.51
Sumter MSA 41,200 40,600 40,700 600 1.48 500 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.

 

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

LOCAL AREA UNEMPLOYMENT ESTIMATES BY COUNTY, MSA, AND STATE

(NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED)
Area Rate Up/Rate Down/Same Labor Force Oct. 2019 Employment Oct. 2019 Unemployment Level Oct. 2019 Unemployment Rate Labor Force Sept. 2019 Employment     Sept. 2019 Unemployment Level Sept. 2019 Unemployment Rate Labor Force Oct. 2018 Employment     Oct. 2018 Unemployment Level     Oct. 2018 Unemployment Rate
Bamberg County Rate Up 5,028 4,783 245 4.9 4,892 4,683 209 4.3 4,949 4,603 346 7.0
Orangeburg County Rate Up 35,031 33,548 1,483 4.2 34,401 33,115 1,286 3.7 34,790 32,586 2,204 6.3
Allendale County Rate Up 2,784 2,671 113 4.1 2,710 2,607 103 3.8 2,706 2,559 147 5.4
Marlboro County Rate Up 9,360 9,027 333 3.6 9,156 8,897 259 2.8 9,206 8,754 452 4.9
Williamsburg County Rate Up 12,512 12,091 421 3.4 12,288 11,926 362 2.9 12,333 11,709 624 5.1
Lee County Rate Up 6,748 6,525 223 3.3 6,626 6,429 197 3.0 6,575 6,304 271 4.1
Barnwell County Rate Up 8,519 8,247 272 3.2 8,376 8,127 249 3.0 8,364 7,980 384 4.6
Dillon County Rate Up 12,924 12,522 402 3.1 12,646 12,298 348 2.8 12,666 12,068 598 4.7
Fairfield County Rate Up 9,726 9,423 303 3.1 9,655 9,370 285 3.0 9,706 9,207 499 5.1
Marion County Rate Up 13,167 12,762 405 3.1 12,997 12,640 357 2.7 12,976 12,278 698 5.4
Chester County Rate Up 13,768 13,354 414 3.0 13,614 13,252 362 2.7 13,387 12,777 610 4.6
Clarendon County Rate Up 12,753 12,377 376 2.9 12,497 12,180 317 2.5 12,518 11,973 545 4.4
Calhoun County Rate Up 6,725 6,534 191 2.8 6,658 6,494 164 2.5 6,676 6,380 296 4.4
Abbeville County Rate Up 10,270 9,994 276 2.7 10,139 9,915 224 2.2 10,149 9,755 394 3.9
Darlington County Rate Up 30,564 29,784 780 2.6 30,326 29,628 698 2.3 29,998 28,833 1,165 3.9
Georgetown County Rate Up 26,311 25,619 692 2.6 25,933 25,362 571 2.2 25,727 24,657 1,070 4.2
Lancaster County Rate Up 41,128 40,057 1,071 2.6 40,707 39,815 892 2.2 39,808 38,410 1,398 3.5
Union County Rate Up 11,932 11,621 311 2.6 11,878 11,609 269 2.3 11,602 11,166 436 3.8
Sumter County Rate Up 44,911 43,797 1,114 2.5 44,299 43,348 951 2.1 44,164 42,526 1,638 3.7
Colleton County Rate Up 17,008 16,600 408 2.4 16,840 16,492 348 2.1 16,820 16,207 613 3.6
Horry County Rate Up 152,046 148,462 3,584 2.4 151,866 148,901 2,965 2.0 144,752 139,085 5,667 3.9
McCormick County Rate Up 3,489 3,407 82 2.4 3,443 3,380 63 1.8 3,437 3,324 113 3.3
Cherokee County Rate Up 26,023 25,430 593 2.3 25,705 25,199 506 2.0 25,516 24,656 860 3.4
Greenwood County Rate Up 31,671 30,938 733 2.3 31,224 30,598 626 2.0 31,190 30,080 1,110 3.6
Laurens County Rate Up 30,418 29,713 705 2.3 30,189 29,595 594 2.0 29,847 28,846 1,001 3.4
Chesterfield County
 		 Rate Up 22,474 21,981 493 2.2 22,130 21,729 401 1.8 21,942 21,277 665 3.0
Florence County Rate Up 66,977 65,524 1,453 2.2 66,691 65,445 1,246 1.9 66,056 63,745 2,311 3.5
Kershaw County Rate Up 29,291 28,634 657 2.2 29,061 28,479 582 2.0 28,947 27,982 965 3.3
Newberry County Rate Up 19,051 18,638 413 2.2 18,665 18,308 357 1.9 18,534 17,989 545 2.9
Aiken County
 		 Rate Up 75,552 73,935 1,617 2.1 74,598 73,232 1,366 1.8 73,836 71,479 2,357 3.2
Edgefield County
 		 Rate Up 10,698 10,476 222 2.1 10,541 10,353 188 1.8 10,450 10,104 346 3.3
Anderson County
 		 Rate Up 91,472 89,618 1,854 2.0 90,835 89,283 1,552 1.7 89,776 87,011 2,765 3.1
Hampton County
 		 Rate Up 8,449 8,280 169 2.0 8,255 8,112 143 1.7 8,133 7,863 270 3.3
Oconee County
 		 Rate Up 35,875 35,173 702 2.0 35,398 34,802 596 1.7 35,236 34,173 1,063 3.0
Pickens County Rate Up 57,335 56,163 1,172 2.0 57,031 56,013 1,018 1.8 56,372 54,604 1,768 3.1
Richland County
 		 Rate Up 199,712 195,682 4,030 2.0 198,551 195,000 3,551 1.8 198,026 191,649 6,377 3.2
Saluda County
 		 Rate Up 8,883 8,704 179 2.0 8,714 8,560 154 1.8 8,656 8,396 260 3.0
York County
 		 Rate Up 140,081 137,226 2,855 2.0 139,031 136,579 2,452 1.8 135,863 131,779 4,084 3.0
Beaufort County
 		 Rate Up 79,092 77,583 1,509 1.9 78,158 76,930 1,228 1.6 75,241 72,946 2,295 3.1
Berkeley County
 		 Rate Up 103,300 101,343 1,957 1.9 103,178 101,535 1,643 1.6 102,076 99,200 2,876 2.8
Spartanburg County
 		 Rate Up 153,071 150,195 2,876 1.9 152,368 149,940 2,428 1.6 148,535 144,199 4,336 2.9
Dorchester County
 		 Rate Up 76,594 75,201 1,393 1.8 76,525 75,345 1,180 1.5 75,769 73,617 2,152 2.8
Greenville County
 		 Rate Up 254,401 249,741 4,660 1.8 252,725 248,865 3,860 1.5 249,548 242,537 7,011 2.8
Jasper County
 		 Rate Up 12,639 12,415 224 1.8 12,564 12,374 190 1.5 12,128 11,775 353 2.9
Charleston County Rate Up 210,090 206,552 3,538 1.7 210,219 207,270 2,949 1.4 208,056 202,622 5,434 2.6
Lexington County
 		 Rate Up 149,461 146,852 2,609 1.7 148,434 146,266 2,168 1.5 147,752 143,752 4,000 2.7
Charleston -
North Charleston MSA		 Rate Up 389,984 383,096 6,888 1.8 389,922 384,150 5,772 1.5 385,901 375,439 10,462 2.7
Columbia MSA Rate Up 403,798 395,829 7,969 2.0 401,073 394,169 6,904 1.7 399,763 387,366 12,397 3.1
Florence MSA Rate Up 97,541 95,308 2,233 2.3 97,017 95,073 1,944 2.0 96,054 92,578 3,476 3.6
Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin MSA Rate Up 433,626 425,235 8,391 1.9 430,780 423,756 7,024 1.6 425,543 412,998 12,545 2.9
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED South Carolina Rate Down 2,381,125 2,318,762 62,363 2.6 2,380,757 2,311,571 69,186 2.9 2,329,300 2,254,370 74,930 3.2

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