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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).
| 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 |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| 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.
| 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.
| 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.