Employment and Workforce Executive Director Dan Ellzey’s Statement

September 2021 Employment Situation

Columbia, SC – “South Carolina celebrated another encouraging month of recovery. September marks the ninth consecutive month of drops in the unemployment rate from 4.2% in August to 4.1% in September. In contrast to the nation, there has also been a steady rise of people reentering the workforce in the state. As of September 2021, there are 7,746 more South Carolinians employed than there were pre-pandemic in February 2020. This positive trend is a terrific marker of our state’s resurgence in response to the pandemic,” said S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce Executive Director Dan Ellzey.

“As we celebrate another month of progress, this is also an important time to focus on the continued need for workforce. There are more than 107,000 open positions posted on the SC Works Online System (SCWOS) website. This includes more than 15,000 available jobs in the healthcare industry, more than 10,000 in retail trade, and more than 6,000 in industries such as accommodation and food services, educational services, and manufacturing,” continued Ellzey.

“This is an opportune time for job seekers to take advantage of the abundance of positions available in the workforce across a variety of industries. We strongly encourage anyone struggling to find the right type of job, employer, or position in their local area to contact an SC Works center near them. The professionals in these centers have relationships with regional employers, can assess skills, recommend education and training opportunities, develop a personalized employment plan for job seekers, and offer a variety of professional services. South Carolina has continued to overcome challenges and reduce unemployment because of the talented and remarkable individuals who make up our workforce. Visit SC Works and allow them to help you become our next great success story,” said Ellzey.

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The S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce is putting South Carolinians to work. The agency has four missions: (1) workforce development; (2) free job match employment services; (3) unemployment insurance; and (4) labor market information. All four missions contribute to workforce development. The agency is dedicated to advancing South Carolina through services and programs that meet the needs of our businesses, job seekers and those looking to advance their careers.