MyBenefits
Apply for and certify your claim here.
Mon, 03/16/2020
South Carolina’s Employment Situation
January 2020
Employment Grows to a New Record
I. Household Survey(1)
Employment: The monthly survey of households across the state estimated the number of South Carolinians working moved higher, establishing a new record of 2,330,683.
That is a sizeable increase of 4,665 people over December 2019.
That is also a significant increase of 43,517 people over January 2019.
Unemployment: Unemployment estimates decreased to 56,590 people.
That is a decrease of 689 people since December 2019 and a decrease of 23,666 over January 2019.
The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged over the month from the revised rate of 2.4 percent in December.
Nationally, the unemployment rate ticked up to 3.6 percent from December’s estimate of 3.5 percent.
Labor force: The state’s estimated labor force (people working plus unemployed people looking for work) increased to 2,387,273.
That is an increase of 3,976 people since December 2019.
That is an increase of 19,851 individuals over January 2019.
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 5,800 nonfarm payroll jobs over the month to a record high level of 2,215,400.
Industries reporting increases in employment were Education and Health Services (+1,500); Professional and Business Services (+1,300); Manufacturing (+900); and Government (+900); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+600); Other Services (+400); Leisure and Hospitality (+300) and Information (+100).
Decreases were noticed in the Financial Activities (-200) industry. The Construction industry remained flat.
From January 2019 to January 2020, South Carolina’s economy has added 41,600 seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs.
Industries with strong growth were Leisure and Hospitality (+11,500); Government (+7,200); Professional and Business Services (+6,300); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+5,200); Education and Health Services (+4,000); Construction (+2,800) Manufacturing (+2,600); and Other Services (+2,300).
Decreases were seen in Information (-200) and Financial Activities (-100).
Nonagricultural Employment by Industry (Not Seasonally Adjusted(2))
Not seasonally adjusted, nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 33,400 from December 2019 to January 2020 for a total of 2,184,000. This decline is a typical trend for the December-to-January time period due to seasonal layoffs and school closings between terms.
No industries showed growth during this period. However, the Mining and Logging industry did remain stagnant.
Industries reporting declines were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-12,800); Leisure and Hospitality (-7,100); Government (-4,700); Professional and Business Services (-4,600); Education and Health Services (-1,200); Construction (-1,200); Financial Activities (-800); Other Services (-600); Information (-300); and Manufacturing (-100). Mining and Logging remained flat.
Since January 2019, not seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs were up 41,100 overall in South Carolina.
Industries marking strong annual gains were Leisure and Hospitality (+10,900); Professional and Business Services (+6,500); Government (+5,900); Education and Health Services (+5,000); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+4,800); Construction (+3,300); Manufacturing (+2,600); Other Services (+1,600); Financial Activities (+400); and Mining and Logging (+100). No industries recorded an over the year loss; however, the Information Industry remained flat.
| 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 |
| Dec. 2019 to Jan. 2020 | Dec. 2019 to Jan. 2020 | Jan. 2019 to Jan. 2020 | Jan. 2019 to Jan. 2020 | ||||
| Area | January 2020 | December 2019 | January 2019 | # Change | % Change | # Change | % Change |
| Total Nonfarm Employment | 2,215,400 | 2,209,600 | 2,173,800 | 5,800 | 0.26% | 41,600 | 1.91% |
| Construction | 109,200 | 109,200 | 106,400 | 0 | 0.00% | 2,800 | 2.63% |
| Manufacturing | 258,800 | 257,900 | 256,200 | 900 | 0.35% | 2,600 | 1.01% |
| Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 411,700 | 411,100 | 406,500 | 600 | 0.15% | 5,200 | 1.28% |
| Information | 26,800 | 26,700 | 27,000 | 100 | 0.37% | -200 | -0.74% |
| Financial Activities | 104,000 | 104,200 | 104,100 | -200 | -0.19% | -100 | -0.10% |
| Professional and Business Services | 303,500 | 302,200 | 297,200 | 1,300 | 0.43% | 6,300 | 2.12% |
| Education and Health Services | 260,300 | 258,800 | 256,300 | 1,500 | 0.58% | 4,000 | 1.56% |
| Leisure and Hospitality | 279,800 | 279,500 | 268,300 | 300 | 0.11% | 11,500 | 4.29% |
| Other Services | 80,700 | 80,300 | 78,400 | 400 | 0.50% | 2,300 | 2.93% |
| Government | 376,200 | 375,300 | 369,000 | 900 | 0.24% | 7,200 | 1.95% |
| Dec. 2019 to Jan. 2020 | Dec. 2019 to Jan. 2020 | Jan. 2019 to Jan. 2020 | Jan. 2019 to Jan. 2020 | ||||
| Area | January 2020 | December 2019 | January 2019 | # Change | % Change | # Change | % Change |
| Total Nonfarm Employment | 2,184,000 | 2,217,400 | 2,142,900 | -33,400 | -1.51% | 41,100 | 1.92% |
| Mining and Logging | 4,400 | 4,400 | 4,300 | 0 | 0.00% | 100 | 2.33% |
| Construction | 108,200 | 109,400 | 104,900 | -1,200 | -1.10% | 3,300 | 3.15% |
| Manufacturing | 258,100 | 258,200 | 255,500 | -100 | -0.04% | 2,600 | 1.02% |
| Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 407,700 | 420,500 | 402,900 | -12,800 | -3.04% | 4,800 | 1.19% |
| Information | 26,700 | 27,000 | 26,700 | -300 | -1.11% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Financial Activities | 103,100 | 103,900 | 102,700 | -800 | -0.77% | 400 | 0.39% |
| Professional and Business Services | 299,900 | 304,500 | 293,400 | -4,600 | -1.51% | 6,500 | 2.22% |
| Education and Health Services | 259,100 | 260,300 | 254,100 | -1,200 | -0.46% | 5,000 | 1.97% |
| Leisure and Hospitality | 262,700 | 269,800 | 251,800 | -7,100 | -2.63% | 10,900 | 4.33% |
| Other Services | 79,200 | 79,800 | 77,600 | -600 | -0.75% | 1,600 | 1.06% |
| Government | 374,900 | 379,600 | 369,00 | -4,700 | -1.24% | 5,900 | 1.60% |
| December 2019 to Jan. 2020 | Dec. 2019 to Jan. 2020 | Jan. 2019 to Jan. 2020 | Jan. 2019 to Jan. 2020 | ||||
| Area | January 2020 | December 2019 | January 2019 | # Change | % Change | # Change | % Change |
| Statewide | 2,215,400 | 2,209,600 | 2,173,800 | 5,800 | 0.26% | 41,600 | 1.91% |
| Charleston/North Charleston MSA | 381,400 | 378,700 | 372,300 | 2,700 | 0.71% | 9,100 | 2.44% |
| Columbia MSA | 408,000 | 404,900 | 400,100 | 3,100 | 0.76% | 7,900 | 1.97% |
| Florence MSA | 92,600 | 92,900 | 92,300 | -300 | -0.32% | 300 | 0.33% |
| Greenville/Anderson/Mauldin MSA | 433,800 | 433,500 | 432,300 | 300 | 0.07% | 1,500 | 0.35% |
| Hilton Head-Bluffton-Beaufort MSA | 86,600 | 86,100 | 83,500 | 500 | 0.58% | 3,100 | 3.71% |
| Myrtle Beach MSA | 178,800 | 178,500 | 173,400 | 300 | 0.17% | 5,400 | 3.11% |
| Spartanburg MSA | 164,300 | 163,600 | 162,100 | 700 | 0.43% | 2,200 | 1.36% |
| Sumter MSA | 39,900 | 39,900 | 39,900 | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
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.
| December 2019 to January 2020 | December 2019 to January 2020 | Jan. 2019 to Jan. 2020 | Jan. 2019 to Jan. 2020 | ||||
| Area | January 2020 | December 2019 | January 2019 | # Change | % Change | # Change | % Change |
| Statewide | 2,184,000 | 2,217,400 | 2,142,900 | -33,400 | -1.51% | 41,100 | 1.92% |
| Charleston/North Charleston MSA | 375,900 | 379,900 | 367,400 | -4,000 | -1.05% | 8,500 | 2.31% |
| Columbia MSA | 404,400 | 407,500 | 396,300 | -3,100 | -0.76% | 8,100 | 2.04% |
| Florence MSA | 91,700 | 93,500 | 91,500 | -1,800 | -1.93% | 200 | 0.22% |
| Greenville MSA | 429,600 | 437,700 | 428,000 | -8,100 | -1.85% | 1,600 | 0.37% |
| Hilton Head-Bluffton-Beaufort MSA | 84,000 | 84,600 | 80,900 | -600 | -0.71% | 3,100 | 3.83% |
| Myrtle Beach MSA/Conway/N. Myrtle Beach MSA | 168,200 | 172,000 | 163,000 | -3,800 | -2.21% | 5,200 | 3.19% |
| Spartanburg MSA | 163,000 | 165,100 | 161,400 | -2,100 | -1.27% | 1,600 | 0.99% |
| Sumter MSA | 39,9000 | 40,200 | 39,700 | -300 | -0.75% | 200 | 0.50% |
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 | Jan. 2020 Unemployment | Jan. 2020 Unemployment Level | Jan. 2020 Unemployment Rate | Labor Force | Dec. 2019** Unemployment | Dec. 2019** Unemployment Level | Dec. 2019** Unemployment Rate | Labor Force | Jan. 2019** Unemployment | Jan. 2019** Unemployment Level | Jan. 2019** Unemployment Rate |
| Allendale County | Rate Up | 2,696 | 2,514 | 182 | 6.8 | 2,825 | 2,694 | 131 | 4.6 | 2,816 | 2,643 | 173 | 6.1 |
| Bamberg County | Rate Up | 4,986 | 4,707 | 279 | 5.6 | 5,047 | 4,819 | 228 | 4.5 | 5,036 | 4,701 | 335 | 6.7 |
| Lee County | Rate Up | 6,708 | 6,372 | 336 | 5.0 | 6,789 | 6,519 | 270 | 4.0 | 6,712 | 6,391 | 321 | 4.8 |
| Williamsburg County | Rate Up | 12,086 | 11,485 | 601 | 5.0 | 12,650 | 12,142 | 508 | 4.0 | 12,550 | 11,824 | 726 | 5.8 |
| Orangeburg County | Rate Up | 35,394 | 33,648 | 1,746 | 4.9 | 35,212 | 33,775 | 1,437 | 4.1 | 34,840 | 32,812 | 2,028 | 5.8 |
| Barnwell County | Rate Up | 8,260 | 7,883 | 377 | 4.6 | 8,568 | 8,267 | 301 | 3.5 | 8,450 | 8,043 | 407 | 4.8 |
| Fairfield County | Rate Up | 9,722 | 9,272 | 450 | 4.6 | 9,777 | 9,399 | 378 | 3.9 | 9,766 | 9,189 | 577 | 5.9 |
| Marlboro County | Rate Up | 9,275 | 8,862 | 413 | 4.5 | 9,412 | 9,066 | 346 | 3.7 | 9,255 | 8,779 | 476 | 5.1 |
| Horry County | Rate Up | 145,466 | 139,076 | 6,390 | 4.4 | 148,444 | 143,756 | 4,688 | 3.2 | 142,472 | 134,735 | 7,737 | 5.4 |
| Chester County | Rate Up | 13,569 | 12,984 | 585 | 4.3 | 13,728 | 13,235 | 493 | 3.6 | 13,390 | 12,732 | 658 | 4.9 |
| Marion County | Rate Up | 12,898 | 12,341 | 557 | 4.3 | 13,153 | 12,713 | 440 | 3.3 | 13,061 | 12,305 | 756 | 5.8 |
| Georgetown County | Rate Up | 25,518 | 24,435 | 1,083 | 4.2 | 26,445 | 25,604 | 841 | 3.2 | 26,086 | 24,729 | 1,357 | 5.2 |
| Clarendon County | Rate Up | 12,751 | 12,232 | 519 | 4.1 | 12,887 | 12,457 | 430 | 3.3 | 12,840 | 12,222 | 618 | 4.8 |
| Dillon County | Rate Up | 13,313 | 12,761 | 552 | 4.1 | 13,044 | 12,594 | 450 | 3.4 | 12,986 | 12,329 | 657 | 5.1 |
| McCormick County | Rate Up | 3,419 | 3,284 | 135 | 3.9 | 3,514 | 3,427 | 87 | 2.5 | 3,477 | 3,329 | 148 | 4.3 |
| Abbeville County | Rate Up | 10,081 | 9,716 | 365 | 3.6 | 10,347 | 10,049 | 298 | 2.9 | 10,161 | 9,717 | 444 | 4.4 |
| Calhoun County | Rate Up | 6,660 | 6,430 | 230 | 3.5 | 6,732 | 6,534 | 198 | 2.9 | 6,704 | 6,405 | 299 | 4.5 |
| Lancaster County | Rate Up | 41,755 | 40,306 | 1,449 | 3.5 | 40,939 | 39,762 | 1,177 | 2.9 | 39,867 | 38,236 | 1,631 | 4.1 |
| Sumter County | Rate Up | 44,244 | 42,676 | 1,568 | 3.5 | 44,588 | 43,265 | 1,323 | 3.0 | 44,594 | 42,818 | 1,776 | 4.0 |
| Union County | Rate Up | 11,729 | 11,314 | 415 | 3.5 | 11,923 | 11,581 | 342 | 2.9 | 11,636 | 11,152 | 484 | 4.2 |
| Darlington County | Rate Up | 30,499 | 29,465 | 1,034 | 3.4 | 30,488 | 29,633 | 855 | 2.8 |
30,466 |
29,195 | 1,271 | 4.2 |
| Cherokee County | Rate Up | 25,091 | 24,252 | 839 | 3.3 | 26,138 | 25,461 | 677 | 2.6 | 25,438 | 24,519 | 919 | 3.6 |
| Greenwood County | Rate Up | 31,377 | 30,347 | 1,030 | 3.3 | 31,854 | 31,040 | 814 | 2.6 | 31,259 | 30,056 | 1,203 | 3.8 |
| Colleton County | Rate Up | 16,842 | 16,298 | 544 | 3.2 | 17,211 | 16,762 | 449 | 2.6 | 16,940 | 16,272 | 668 | 3.9 |
| Kershaw County | Rate Up | 29,630 | 28,672 | 958 | 3.2 | 29,292 | 28,556 | 736 | 2.5 | 28,961 | 27,911 | 1,050 | 3.6 |
| Chesterfield County | Rate Up | 22,196 | 21,510 | 686 | 3.1 | 22,638 | 22,095 | 543 | 2.4 | 22,282 | 21,483 | 799 | 3.6 |
| Laurens County | Rate Up | 30,364 | 29,429 | 935 | 3.1 | 30,311 | 29,556 | 755 | 2.5 | 30,012 | 28,950 | 1,062 | 3.5 |
| Aiken County | Rate Up | 75,329 | 73,098 | 2,231 | 3.0 | 75,186 | 73,420 | 1,766 | 2.3 | 74,714 | 72,210 | 2,504 | 3.4 |
| Edgefield County | Rate Up | 10,816 | 10,496 | 320 | 3.0 |
10,706 |
10,459 | 247 | 2.3 | 10,711 | 10,353 | 358 | 3.3 |
| Florence County | Rate Up | 67,241 | 65,242 | 1,999 | 3.0 | 68,879 | 65,266 | 1,613 | 2.4 | 66,648 | 64,095 | 2,533 | 3.8 |
| Anderson County | Rate Up | 91,613 | 89,081 | 2,532 | 2.8 | 90,968 | 88,954 | 2,014 | 2.2 | 90,003 | 86,962 | 3,041 | 3.4 |
| Newberry County | Rate Up | 19,186 | 18,653 | 533 | 2.8 | 19,179 | 18,739 | 440 | 2.3 | 18,951 | 18,340 | 611 | 3.2 |
| Oconee County | Rate Up | 35,169 | 34,186 | 983 | 2.8 | 36,064 | 35,294 | 770 | 2.2 | 35,500 | 34,319 | 1,181 | 3.3 |
| Pickens County | Rate Up | 57,732 | 56,094 | 1,638 | 2.8 | 57,118 | 55,804 | 1,314 | 2.3 | 56,489 | 54,540 | 1,949 | 3.5 |
| Richland County | Rate Up | 200,442 | 194,886 | 5,556 | 2.8 | 198,955 | 194,516 | 4,439 | 2.2 | 196,442 | 189,218 | 7,224 | 3.7 |
| York County | Rate Up | 141,769 | 137,828 | 3,941 | 2.8 | 139,363 | 136,182 | 3,181 | 2.3 | 135,373 | 130,743 | 4,630 | 3.4 |
| Hampton County | Rate Up | 8,422 | 8,191 | 231 | 2.7 | 8,438 | 8,252 | 186 | 2.2 | 8,344 | 8,045 | 299 | 3.6 |
| Saluda County | Rate Up | 9,010 | 8,769 | 241 | 2.7 | 8,950 | 8,758 | 192 | 2.1 | 9,005 | 8,723 | 282 | 3.1 |
| Spartanburg County | Rate Up | 154,094 | 149,980 | 4,114 | 2.7 | 152,673 | 149,490 | 3,183 | 2.1 | 148,585 | 143,862 | 4,723 | 3.2 |
| Beaufort County | Rate Up | 78,245 | 76,180 | 2,065 | 2.6 | 77,300 | 75,678 | 1,622 | 2.1 | 75,226 | 72,751 | 2,475 | 3.3 |
| Berkeley County | Rate Up | 105,084 | 102,393 | 2,691 | 2.6 | 103,401 | 101,203 | 2,198 | 2.1 | 101,066 | 97,809 | 3,257 | 3.2 |
| Dorchester County | Rate Up | 78,940 | 76,974 | 1,966 | 2.5 | 76,689 | 75,148 | 1,541 | 2.0 | 75,095 | 72,668 | 2,427 | 3.2 |
| Greenville County | Rate Up | 255,903 | 249,567 | 6,336 | 2.5 | 252,867 | 247,793 | 5,074 | 2.0 | 249,738 | 242,113 | 7,625 | 3.1 |
| Jasper County | Rate Up | 12,877 | 12,515 | 312 | 2.4 | 12,523 | 12,268 | 255 | 2.0 | 12,252 | 11,862 | 390 | 3.2 |
| Charleston County | Rate Up | 214,070 | 209,185 | 4,885 | 2.3 | 210,970 | 207,060 | 3,910 | 1.9 | 206,447 | 200,460 | 5,987 | 2.9 |
| Lexington County | Rate Up | 151,470 | 147,975 | 3,495 | 2.3 | 149,197 | 146,400 | 2,797 | 1.9 | 147,117 | 142,837 | 4,280 | 2.9 |
| Charleston - North Charleston MSA | Rate Up | 398,094 | 388,552 | 9,542 | 2.4 | 391,060 | 383,411 | 7,649 | 2.0 | 382,608 | 370,937 | 11,671 | 3.1 |
| Columbia MSA | Rate Up | 406,934 | 396,004 | 10,930 | 2.7 | 402,903 | 394,163 | 8,740 | 2.2 | 397,995 | 384,283 | 13,712 | 3.4 |
| Florence MSA | Rate Up | 97,740 | 94,707 | 3,033 | 3.1 | 97,367 | 94,899 | 2,468 | 2.5 |
97,114 |
93,290 | 3,824 | 3.9 |
| Greenville-Anderson- Mauldin MSA | Rate Up | 435,612 | 424,171 | 11,441 | 2.6 | 431,264 | 422,107 | 9,157 | 2.1 | 426,242 | 412,565 | 13,677 | 3.2 |
| SEASONALLY ADJUSTED South Carolina | - | 2,387,273 | 2,330,683 | 56,590 | 2.4 | 2,383,297 | 2,326,018 | 57,279 | 2.4 | 2,367,422 | 2,287,166 | 80,256 | 3.4 |
Current month's estimates are preliminary. All data are subject to revision.