South Carolina unemployment rate averages 4.3% in 2017

South Carolina’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate averaged 4.3 percent in 2017, down from the rate of 5 percent in 2016, according to new re-estimated unemployment data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Employment increased throughout the year by nearly 21,310 people and ended at a level of 2,220,845 in December.

In 2017, the estimated number of unemployed individuals decreased throughout the first six months of the year, and the level remained nearly flat in the second half of the year, ending with 97,879 people unemployed in December.

The labor force increased about 15,519 during the year to approximately 2,318,724 people.

Additionally, reviewing re-estimated data from the 24-month period of January 2016 to December 2017, the state’s employment level increased by approximately 57,415 people, reflecting continued economic progress over the period.

Annually, the Bureau of Labor Statistics re-estimates labor force data to take advantage of the latest available information related to unemployment claims, nonfarm employment, population changes and other variables used in generating the estimates.