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South Carolina's Employment Situation November 2019

Fri, 12/20/2019

South Carolina’s Employment Situation

 November 2019

Employment Growth Sets Another Record

Unemployment Continues Downward Trend

 

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 2,324,510.That is a considerable increase of 5,604 people over October 2019. That is also a significant increase of 69,390 people over November 2018. Unemployment: Unemployment estimates decreased to 57,891 people. That is a decrease of 4,486 people since October 2019 and a decrease of 17,216 over November 2018.  With that decrease, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate moved lower over the month, from 2.6 percent in October to a historic low of 2.4 percent in November.  Nationally, the unemployment rate decreased from 3.6 percent in October to 3.5 percent in November.  Labor force: The state’s estimated labor force (people working plus unemployed people looking for work) increased modestly to 2,382,401.  That is an increase of 1,118 people since October 2019.  That is an increase of 52,174 individuals over November 2018.

II. Current Employment Survey(2)

Nonagricultural Employment by Industry (Seasonally Adjusted(3)

The Current Employment Survey of businesses in South Carolina marked an increase of +3,800 nonfarm payroll jobs over the month to a record high level of 2,190,300.  Industries reporting increases in employment were Professional and Business Services (+2,000); Leisure and Hospitality (+1,700); Manufacturing (+700); Education and Health Services (+700); Other Services (+300); and Government (+100).  Decreases were noticed in the Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,700) and Financial Activities (-300) industries. The Information industry remained flat. From November 2018 to November 2019, South Carolina’s economy has added 31,900 seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs.  Industries with strong growth were Leisure and Hospitality (+9,600); Manufacturing (+6,700); Government (+5,500); Education and Health Services (+5,100); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+4,000); Other Services (+2,700); and Construction (+1,500).  Decreases were seen in Professional and Business Services (-2,500); and Information (-900). Financial Activities remained stagnant over the year.

Nonagricultural Employment by Industry (Not Seasonally Adjusted(2))

Not seasonally adjusted, nonfarm payroll employment increased by +11,700 from October 2019 to November 2019 for a total of 2,201,500. The most prominent gains were in the Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+5,500) and the Professional and Business Service (+4,600) industries.  Other industries that saw an increase were Government (+2,200); Manufacturing (+1,600); Education and Health Services (+900); Information (+200); and Construction (+100).  Industries reporting declines were Leisure and Hospitality (-2,400); Financial Activities (-800); and Other Services (-200). Mining and Logging remained flat.  Since November 2018, not seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs were up 33,500 overall in South Carolina.  Industries marking strong annual gains were Leisure and Hospitality (+9,600); Manufacturing (+6,500); Government (+5,400); Education and Health Services (+5,000); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+4,500); Other Services (+2,400); Construction (+1,800); and Mining and Logging (+200).Industries reporting an over the year decline were Professional and Business Services (-900); Information (-900); and Financial Activities (-100).

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

November
        Oct. to Nov. 2019  Oct. to Nov. 2019  Nov. 2018 to Nov. 2019 Nov. 2018 to Nov. 2019
Area November 2019 October 2019 November 2018 # Change % Change # Change % Change
Total Nonfarm Employment 2,190,300 2,186,500 2,158,400 3,000 0.17% 31,900 1.48%
Construction 103,100 102,800 101,600 300 0.29% 1,500 1.48%
Manufacturing 256,200 255,800 249,800 700 0.27% 6,700 2.68%
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities0.39% 415,100 416,800 411,100 -1,700 -0.41% 4,000 0.97%
Information 27,100 27,100 28,000 0 0.00% -900 -3.21%
Finance Activities 105,000 105,300 105,000 -300 -0.29% 0 0.00%
Professional and Business Services 293,400 291,400 295,900 2,000 0.68% -2,500 -0.84%
Education and Health Services 260,000 259,300 254,900 700 0.27% 5,100 2.00%
Leisure and Hospitality 271,600 269,900 262,000 1,700 0.63% 9,600 3.66%
Other Services 78,200 77,900 75,500 300 0.38% 2,700 3.58%
Government 375,700 375,600 370,200 100 0.03% 5,500 1.49%

 

Nonfarm Employment by Industry, Not Seasonally Adjusted

Statewide

November
        Oct. to Nov. 2019  Oct. to Nov. 2019  Nov. 2018 to Nov. 2019 Nov. 2018 to Nov. 2019
Area November 2019 October 2019 November 2018 # Change % Change # Change % Change
Total Nonfarm Employment 2,201,500 2,189,800 2,168,000 11,700 0.53% 33,500 1.55%
Mining and Logging 4,600 4,600 4,400 0 0.00% 200 4.55%
Construction 103,00 105,900 101,200 100 0.10% 1,800 1.78%
Manufacturing 256,700 255,100 250,200 1,600 0.63% 6,500 2.60%
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities 422,200 416,700 417,700 5,500 1.32% 4,500 1.08%
Information 27,200 27,000 28,100 200 0.74% -900 -3.20%
Financial Activities 104,700 105,500 104,800 -800 -0.76% -100 -0.10%
Professional and Business Services 297,700 293,100 298,600 4,600 1.57% -900 -0.30%
Education and Health Services 262,300 261,400 257,300 900 0.34% 5,000 1.94%
Leisure and Hospitality 263,900 266,300 254,300 -2,400 -0.90% 9,600 3.78%
Other Services 77,700 77,900 75,300 -200 -0.265 2,400 3.19%
Government 381,500 379,300 376,100 2,200 0.58% 5,400 1.44%

 

Nonfarm Employment by Area, Seasonally Adjusted

South Carolina & Metropolitan Seasonally Adjusted

November
        Oct. to Nov. 2019  Oct. to Nov. 2019  Nov. 2018 to Nov. 2019 Nov. 2018 to Nov. 2019
Area November 2019 October 2019 November 2018 # Change % Change # Change % Change
Statewide 2,190,300 2,186,500 2,158,400 3,800 0.17% 31,900 1.48%
Charleston/North Charleston MSA 371,800 370,900 2,369,500 900 0.24% 2,300 0.62%
Columbia MSA 404,400 402,300 401,100 2,100 0.52% 3,300 0.82%
Florence MSA 92,600 92,500 91,800 100 0.11% 800 0.87%
Greenville/Anderson/Mauldin MSA 430,300 430,600 425,800 -300 -0.07% 4,500 1.06%
Hilton Head-Bluffton-Beaufort MSA 86,500 86,500 83,100 0 0.00% 3,400 4.09%
Myrtle Beach MSA 182,900 182,000 174,300 900 0.49% 8,600 4.93%
Spartanburg MSA 162,800 162,700 158,600 100 0.06% 4,200 2.65%
Sumter MSA 40,900 40,900 40,700 0 0.00% 200 0.49%

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

November
        Oct. to Nov. 2019  Oct. to Nov. 2019     Nov. 2018 to Nov. 2019 Nov. 2018 to Nov. 2019
Area November 2019 October 2019 November 2018 # Change % Change # Change % Change
Statewide 2,201,500 2,189,808 2,168,000 11,700 0.53% 33,500 1.55%
Charleston/North Charleston MSA 374,200 371,400 372,200 2,800 0.75% 2.000 0.54%
Columbia MSA 407,700 404,600 403,700 3,100 0.77% 4,000 0.99%
Florence MSA 93,100 92,400 92,400 700 0.76% 700 0.76%
Greenville MSA 433,200 432,700 429,100 500 0.12% 4,100 0.96%
Hilton Head-Bluffton-Beaufort MSA 85,600 85,900 82,100 -300 -0.35% 3,500 4.26%
Myrtle Beach MSA/Conway/N. Myrtle Beach MSA 179,300 181,000 170,600 -1,700 -0.94% 8,700 5.10%
Spartanburg MSA 164,100 163,600 160,100 500 0.31% 4,000 2.50%
Sumter MSA 41,100 40,900 40,900 200 0.49% 200 0.49%

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 Nov. 2019 Employment Nov. 2019 Unemployment Level Nov. 2019 Unemployment Rate Labor Force Sept. 2020 Employment     Oct 2019 Unemployment Level Oct. 2019 Unemployment Rate Labor Force Nov. 2018 Employment     Nov. 2018 Unemployment Level     Nov. 2018 Unemployment Rate
Bamberg County Rate Down 5,030 4,816 214 4.3 5,044 4,799 245 4.9 4,961 4,673 288 5.8
Allendale County Rate Down 2,800 2,690 110 3.9 2,793 2,680 113 4.0 2,737 2,606 131 4.8
Orangeburg County Rate Down 35,064 33,754 1,310 3.7 35,130 33,646 1,484 4.2 34,625 32,847 1,778 5.1
Marlboro County Rate Down 9,400 9,082 318 3.4 9,393 9,058 335 3.6 9,225 8,825 400 4.3
Williamsburg County Same 12,573 12,148 425 3.4 12,543 12,122 421 3.4 12,389 11,813 576 4.6
Fairfield County Rate Up 9,731 9,406 325 3.3 9,727 9,423 304 3.1 9,640 9,165 475 4.9
Lee County Same 6,751 6,526 225 3.3 6,749 6,526 223 3.3 6,606 6,350 256 3.9
Barnwell County Rate Down 8,544 8,277 267 3.1 8,539 8,266 273 3.2 8,380 8,038 342 4.1
Chester County Rate Up 13,686 13,256 430 3.1 13,769 13,355 414 3.0 13,286 12,736 550 4.1
Dillon County Same 12,994 12,588 406 3.1 12,957 12,554 403 3.1 12,772 12,221 551 4.3
Marion County Same 13,153 12,751 402 3.1 13,184 12,779 405 3.1 12,955 12,325 630 4.9
Clarendon County Rate Up 12,810 12,427 383 3.0 12,767 12,391 376 2.9 12,618 12,117 501 4.0
Abbeville County Rate Up 10,334 10,046 288 2.8 10,302 10,026 276 2.7 10,154 9,800 354 3.5
Georgetown County Rate Up 26,339 25,640 699 2.7 26,369 25,675 694 2.6 25,784 24,781 1,003 3.9
Calhoun County Rate Down 6,700 6,527 173 2.6 6,725 6,534 191 2.8 6,629 6,365 264 4.0
Darlington County Same     30,456 29,675 781 2.6 30,508 29,726 782 2.6 30,003 28,938 1,065 3.5
Lancaster County Same     40,856 39,786 1,070 2.6 41,131 40,059 1,072 2.6 39,582 38,276 1,306 3.3
Sumter County Rate Up 44,503 43,357 1,146 2.6 44,657 43,542 1,115 2.5 44,107 42,605 1,502 3.4
Union County Same  11,862 11,556 306 2.6 11,942 11,630 312 2.6 11,523 11,124 399 3.5
Horry County Rate Up 149,293 145,551 3,742 2.5 151,880 148,288 3,592 2.4 142,409 137,030 5,379 3.8
Colleton County Same        17,100 16,698 402 2.4 17,053 16,643 410 2.4 16,866 16,320 546 3.2
Greenwood County Rate Up 31,830 31,072 758 2.4 31,767 31,033 734 2.3 31,268 30,249 1,019 3.3
Cherokee County Same 26,101 25,500 601 2.3 26,095 25,501 594 2.3 25,507 24,726 781 3.1
Laurens County Same 30,238 29,529 709 2.3 30,455 29,750 705 2.3 29,721 28,828 893 3.0
Florence County Same 66,774 65,314 1,460 2.2 66,848 65,394 1,454 2.2 65,925 63,834 2,091 3.2
Kershaw County Same 29,235 28,581 654 2.2 29,292 28,634 658 2.2 28,718 27,849 869 3.0
McCormick County Rate Down 3,501 3,423 78 2.2 3,499 3,417 82 2.3 3,448 3,339 109 3.2
Newberry County Same 19,137 18,723 414 2.2 19,096 18,683 413 2.2 18,672 18,175 497 2.7
Pickens County Rate Up 57,047 55,793 1,254 2.2 57,406 56,233 1,173 2.0 56,090 54,486 1,604 2.9
Aiken County Rate Down 75,237 73,622 1,615 2.1 75,495 73,875 1,620 2.1 73,510 71,401 2,109 2.9
Anderson County Rate Up 90,856 88,991 1,865 2.1 91,588 89,730 1,858 2.0 89,348 86,835 2,513 2.8
Chesterfield County Rate Down 22,539 22,063 476 2.1 22,521 22,026 495 2.2 22,069 21,440 629 2.9
Edgefield County Same 10,674 10,451 223 2.1 10,689 10,467 222 2.1 10,448 10,142 306 2.9
Richland County Rate Up 199,255 195,114 4,141 2.1 199,721 195,683 4,038 2.0 195,918 190,085 5,833 3.0
Saluda County Rate Up 8,900 8,713 187 2.1 8,883 8,704 179 2.0 8,707 8,472 235 2.7
York County Rate Up 139,213 136,290 2,923 2.1 140,093 137,233 2,860 2.0 134,964 131,176 3,788 2.8
Hampton County Same 8,444 8,275 169 2.0 8,459 8,290 169 2.0 8,191 7,950 241 2.9
Beaufort County Same 77,956 76,481 1,475 1.9 78,879 77,368 1,511 1.9 74,711 72,639 2,072 2.8
Berkeley County Same 103,061 101,066 1,995 1.9 103,379 101,418 1,961 1.9 101,556 98,931 2,625 2.6
Oconee County Rate Down 35,988 35,288 700 1.9 35,975 35,271 704 2.0 35,343 34,378 965 2.7
Spartanburg County Same 152,209 149,264 2,945 1.9 153,179 150,298 2,881 1.9 147,476 143,601 3,875 2.6
Dorchester County Same 76,423 75,014 1,409 1.8 76,651 75,256 1,395 1.8 75,416 73,444 1,972 2.6
Greenville County Same 252,610 247,958 4,652 1.8 254,719 250,053 4,666 1.8 248,264 241,952 6,312 2.5
Jasper County Same 12,520 12,300 220 1.8 12,607 12,383 224 1.8 12,077 11,771 306 2.5
Charleston County Same 209,821 206,283 3,538 1.7 210,243 206,701 3,542 1.7 207,204 202,302 4,902 2.4
Lexington County Same 149,179 146,572 2,607 1.7 149,462 146,851 2,611 1.7 146,491 142,891 3,600 2.5
Charleston-North Charleston MSA Same 389,305 382,363 6,942 1.8 390,273 383,375 6,898 1.8 384,176 374,677 9,499 2.5
Columbia MSA Same 403,000 394,913 8,087 2.0 403,810 395,829 7,981 2.0 396,103 384,827 11,276 2.8
Florence MSA Same 97,230 94,989 2,241 2.3 97,356 95,120 2,236 2.3 95,928 92,772 3,156 3.3
Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin MSA Rate Up 430,751 422,271 8,480 2.0 434,168 425,766 8,402 1.9 423,423 412,101 11,322 2.7
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED South Carolina Rate Down 2,382,401 2,324,510 57,891 2.4 2,381,283 2,318,906 62,377 2.6 2,330,227 2,255,120 75,107 3.2

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