Employment and Workforce Executive Director William Floyd’s Statement

June 2024 Employment Situation

Columbia, S.C. –  “June’s employment numbers continue to set new record highs with the number of people employed in South Carolina reaching 2,410,144, an increase of 3,632 month over month and employers reporting 2,381,500 in payroll, an increase of 6,900 over May’s number. The labor force participation rate also ticked up to 57.3% from May’s rate of 57.2%. However, we also saw South Carolina follow the national trend with an increase in the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate to 3.6%,” said S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) Executive Director William Floyd.

“It is exciting to see South Carolina setting records as the size of our workforce is the largest ever. That’s good news, but there is still more work to be done, as suggested by the uptick in the unemployment rate. Many South Carolina employers are hiring and offering viable, exciting careers. An excellent way for jobseekers to find their next job is through DEW and other workforce partners. Whether job fairs, rural outreach events, the virtual job platform, workshops and personalized assistance in the SC Works centers, or the SC Works Online Services (SCWOS) system, the state’s largest job database, there are many ways to engage our services to help with the employer-to-jobseeker connection,” said Floyd.

“There are many opportunities for those who do not currently have a job to connect with employment or training. Contact an SC Works center to evaluate your choices and take the next step toward joining South Carolina’s record-setting workforce,” concluded Floyd.