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South Carolina’s Employment Situation
November 2020
I. Household Survey(1)
Employment: The seasonally adjusted, monthly survey of households estimated the number of South Carolinians working decreased significantly to 2,223,349.
Unemployment: Unemployment estimates increased to 102,186 people.
Nationally, the unemployment rate declined from 6.9 percent in October to 6.7 percent in November
Nonagricultural Employment by Industry (Seasonally Adjusted(3))
The Current Employment Survey of businesses in South Carolina marked an increase of 16,300 nonfarm payroll jobs over the month to a level of 2,142,000.
From November 2019 to November 2020, South Carolina’s economy has lost 65,800 seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs.
Nonagricultural Employment by Industry (Not Seasonally Adjusted(2))
Not seasonally adjusted, nonfarm payroll employment increased by 23,100 from October 2020 to November 2020 for a total of 2,152,200.
Since November 2019, not seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs were down 65,200 overall in South Carolina.
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 non seasonal 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. 2020 | Oct. to Nov. 2020 | Oct. 2020 to Nov. 2020 | Nov. 2019 to Nov. 2020 | ||||
Area | November 2020 | October 2020 | November 2019 | # Change | % Change | # Change | % Change |
Total Nonfarm Employment | 2,142,000 | 2,125,700 | 2,207,800 | 16,300 | 0.77% | -65,800 | -2.98% |
Construction | 113,100 | 111,600 | 109,000 | 1,500 | 1.34% | 4,100 | 3.76% |
Manufacturing | 259,300 | 258,600 | 258,600 | 700 | 0.27% | 700 | 0.27% |
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 402,000 | 397,400 | 409,600 | 4,600 | 1.16% | -7,600 | -1.86% |
Information | 25,700 | 25,600 | 26,600 | 100 | 0.39% | -900 | -3.38% |
Finance Activities | 105,200 | 105,400 | 105,000 | 200 | -0.19% | 200 | 0.19% |
Professional and Business Services | 300,000 | 296,200 | 302,400 | 3,800 | 1.28% | -2,400 | -0.79% |
Education and Health Services | 248,800 | 246,700 | 259,400 | 2,100 | 0.85% | -10,600 | -4.09% |
Leisure and Hospitality | 235,300 | 231,500 | 277,800 | 3,800 | 1.64% | -42,500 | -15.30% |
Other Services | 84,900 | 84,400 | 80,500 | 500 | 0.59% | 4,400 | 5.47% |
Government | 363,400 | 364,000 | 374,500 | -600 | -0.16% | -11,100 | -2.96% |
Oct. to Nov. 2020 | Oct. to Nov. 2020 | Nov. 2019 to Nov. 2020 | Nov. 2019 to Nov. 2020 | ||||
Area | November 2020 | October 2020 | November 2019 | # Change | % Change | # Change | % Change |
Total Nonfarm Employment | 2,152,200 | 2,129,100 | 2,217,400 | 23,100 | 1.08% | -65,200 | -2.94% |
Mining and Logging | 4,300 | 4,300 | 4,400 | 0 | 0.00% | -100 | -2.27% |
Construction | 113,100 | 112,100 | 109,000 | 1,000 | 0.89% | 4,100 | 3.76% |
Manufacturing | 259,100 | 257,600 | 259,100 | 1,000 | 0.58% | 0 | 0.00% |
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 408,800 | 397,900 | 416,800 | 10,900 | 2.74% | -8,000 | -1.92% |
Information | 25,700 | 25,300 | 26,600 | 400 | 1.58% | -900 | -3.38% |
Financial Activities | 105,100 | 104,600 | 104,700 | 500 | 0.48% | 400 | 0.38% |
Professional and Business Services | 304,000 | 299,600 | 306,100 | 4,400 | 1.47% | -2,100 | -0.69% |
Education and Health Services | 250,500 | 249,100 | 261,300 | 1,400 | 0.56% | -10,800 | -4.13% |
Leisure and Hospitality | 229,100 | 228,000 | 270,200 | 1,100 | 0.48% | -41,100 | -15.21% |
Other Services | 84,300 | 83,400 | 79,800 | 900 | 1.08% | 4,500 | 5.64% |
Government | 368,200 | 367,200 | 379,400 | 1,000 | 0.27% | -11,200 | -2.95% |
Oct. to Nov. 2020 | Oct. to Nov. 2020 | Nov. 2019 to Nov. 2020 | Nov. 2019 to Nov. 2020 | ||||
Area | November 2020 | October 2020 | November 2019 | # Change | % Change | # Change | % Change |
Statewide | 2,142,000 | 2,125,700 | 2,207,800 | 16,300 | 0.77% | -65,800 | -2.98% |
Charleston/North Charleston MSA | 357,300 | 353,200 | 376,700 | 4,100 | 1.16% | -19,400 | -5.15% |
Columbia MSA | 390,900 | 390,700 | 407,200 | 200 | 0.05% | -16,300 | -4.00% |
Florence MSA | 90,800 | 89,600 | 92,600 | 1,200 | 1.34% | -1,800 | -1.94% |
Greenville/Anderson/Mauldin MSA | 428,800 | 424,000 | 434,700 | 4,800 | 1.13% | -5,900 | -1.36% |
Hilton Head-Bluffton-Beaufort MSA | 84,900 | 83,900 | 85,700 | 1,000 | 1.19% | -800 | -0.93% |
Myrtle Beach MSA | 163,600 | 162,000 | 177,400 | 1,600 | 0.99% | -13,800 | -7.78% |
Spartanburg MSA | 153,600 | 153,700 | 163,500 | -100 | -0.07% | -9,900 | -6.06% |
Sumter MSA | 37,200 | 37,800 | 39,900 | -600 | -1.59% | -2,700 | -6.77% |
Oct. to Nov. 2020 | Oct. to Nov. 2020 | Nov. 2019 to Nov. 2020 | Nov. 2019 to Nov. 2020 | ||||
Area | November 2020 | October 2020 | November 2019 | # Change | % Change | # Change | % Change |
Statewide | 2,152,200 | 2,129,100 | 2,217,400 | 23,100 | 1.08% | -65,200 | -2.94% |
Charleston/North Charleston MSA | 359,000 | 354,600 | 379,000 | 4,400 | 1.24% | -20,000 | -5.28% |
Columbia MSA | 395,100 | 392,400 | 410,100 | 2,700 | 0.69% | -15,000 | -3.66% |
Florence MSA | 91,300 | 89,400 | 93,200 | 1,900 | 2.13% | -1,900 | -2.04% |
Greenville MSA | 432,000 | 426,000 | 437,700 | 6,000 | 1.41% | -5,700 | -1.30% |
Hilton Head-Bluffton-Beaufort MSA | 84,200 | 83,500 | 85,000 | 700 | 0.84% | -800 | -0.94% |
Myrtle Beach MSA/Conway/N. Myrtle Beach MSA | 158,900 | 158,900 | 173,600 | 0 | 0.00% | -14,700 | -8.47% |
Spartanburg MSA | 154,700 | 154,400 | 164,700 | 300 | 0.19% | -10,000 | -6.07% |
Sumter MSA | 37,300 | 37,900 | 40,100 | -600 | -1.58% | -2,800 | -6.98% |
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. 2020 Employment | Nov. 2020 Unemployment Level | Nov. 2020 Unemployment Rate | Labor Force | Oct. 2020 Employment | Oct. 2020 Unemployment Level | Oct. 2020 Unemployment Rate | Labor Force | Nov. 2019 Employment | Nov. 2019 Unemployment Level | Nov. 2019 Unemployment Rate |
Marlboro County | Rate Up | 9,097 | 8,451 | 646 | 7.1 | 9,394 | 8,754 | 640 | 6.8 | 9,185 | 8,851 | 334 | 3.6 |
Bamberg County | Rate Up | 4,835 | 4,501 | 334 | 6.9 | 5,021 | 4,692 | 329 | 6.6 | 4,933 | 4,704 | 229 | 4.6 |
Allendale County | Rate Down | 2,531 | 2,359 | 172 | 6.8 | 2,669 | 2,472 | 197 | 7.4 | 2,644 | 2,527 | 117 | 4.4 |
Orangeburg County | Rate Up | 34,784 | 32,475 | 2,309 | 6.6 | 35,971 | 33,634 | 2,337 | 6.5 | 34,763 | 33,373 | 1,390 | 4.0 |
Marion County | Rate Up | 12,700 | 11,877 | 823 | 6.5 | 13,105 | 12,297 | 808 | 6.2 | 12,812 | 12,383 | 429 | 3.3 |
Chester County | Rate Down | 13,036 | 12,215 | 821 | 6.3 | 13,526 | 12,666 | 860 | 6.4 | 13,478 | 13,019 | 459 | 3.4 |
Union County | Rate Down | 11,339 | 10,662 | 677 | 6.0 | 11,776 | 11,056 | 720 | 6.1 | 11,649 | 11,326 | 323 | 2.8 |
Fairfield County | Rate Up | 9,406 | 8,869 | 537 | 5.7 | 9,735 | 9,201 | 534 | 5.5 | 9,626 | 9,281 | 345 | 3.6 |
Barnwell County | Rate Up | 7,823 | 7,385 | 438 | 5.6 | 8,112 | 7,675 | 437 | 5.4 | 8,157 | 7,876 | 281 | 3.4 |
Lee County | Rate Up | 6,450 | 6,087 | 363 | 5.6 | 6,717 | 6,346 | 371 | 5.5 | 6,632 | 6,394 | 238 | 3.6 |
Williamsburg County | Rate Down | 11,802 | 11,144 | 658 | 5.6 | 12,229 | 11,538 | 691 | 5.7 | 11,815 | 11,367 | 448 | 3.8 |
Cherokee County | Rate Up | 25,085 | 23,763 | 1,322 | 5.3 | 25,920 | 24,574 | 1,346 | 5.2 | 25,289 | 24,654 | 635 | 2.5 |
Horry County | Rate Up | 136,410 | 129,231 | 7,179 | 5.3 | 141,520 | 134,254 | 7,266 | 5.1 | 145,239 | 141,181 | 4,058 | 2.8 |
Georgetown County | Rate Up | 25,312 | 23,997 | 1,315 | 5.2 | 26,202 | 24,876 | 1,326 | 5.1 | 25,458 | 24,714 | 744 | 2.9 |
Sumter County | Rate Up | 41,287 | 39,228 | 2,059 | 5.0 | 43,640 | 41,574 | 2,066 | 4.7 | 43,661 | 42,451 | 1,210 | 2.8 |
Clarendon County | Rate Up | 12,289 | 11,688 | 601 | 4.9 | 12,809 | 12,203 | 606 | 4.7 | 12,641 | 12,235 | 406 | 3.2 |
McCormick County | Rate Up | 3,275 | 3,114 | 161 | 4.9 | 3,371 | 3,214 | 157 | 4.7 | 3,357 | 3,274 | 83 | 2.5 |
Colleton County | Rate Up | 16,550 | 15,777 | 773 | 4.7 | 17,037 | 16,259 | 778 | 4.6 | 16,694 | 16,269 | 425 | 2.5 |
Darlington County | Same | 30,075 | 28,669 | 1,406 | 4.7 | 30,885 | 16,259 | 1,456 | 4.7 | 30,439 | 29,616 | 823 | 2.7 |
Dillon County | Rate Up | 12,917 | 12,304 | 613 | 4.7 | 13,400 | 12,794 | 606 | 4.5 | 12,969 | 12,535 | 434 | 3.3 |
Lancaster County | Same | 39,757 | 37,906 | 1,851 | 4.7 | 41,151 | 39,231 | 1,920 | 4.7 | 41,483 | 40,332 | 1,151 | 2.8 |
Greenwood County | Same | 30,780 | 29,362 | 1,418 | 4.6 | 31,779 | 30,320 | 1,459 | 4.6 | 31,514 | 30,708 | 806 | 2.6 |
Calhoun County | Rate Up | 6,421 | 6,129 | 292 | 4.5 | 6,654 | 6,360 | 294 | 4.4 | 6,600 | 6,418 | 182 | 2.8 |
Chesterfield County | Rate Up | 21,582 | 20,637 | 945 | 4.4 | 22,295 | 21,343 | 952 | 4.3 | 21,903 | 21,401 | 502 | 2.3 |
Richland County | Rate Up | 196,060 | 187,455 | 8,605 | 4.4 | 202,738 | 194,057 | 8,681 | 4.3 | 200,123 | 195,721 | 4,402 | 2.2 |
Abbeville County | Rate Up | 9,818 | 9,399 | 419 | 4.3 | 10,089 | 9,673 | 416 | 4.1 | 10,104 | 9,802 | 302 | 3.0 |
Laurens County | Rate Down | 30,202 | 28,929 | 1,273 | 4.2 | 31,074 | 29,736 | 1,338 | 4.3 | 30,280 | 29,529 | 751 | 2.5 |
Spartanburg County | Same | 147,681 | 141,471 | 6,210 | 4.2 | 153,254 | 146,776 | 6,478 | 4.2 | 153,532 | 150,364 | 3,168 | 2.1 |
Charleston County | Rate Down | 204,797 | 196,464 | 8,333 | 4.1 | 210,735 | 201,883 | 8,852 | 4.2 | 211,899 | 208,118 | 3,781 | 1.8 |
Florence County | Same | 66,314 | 63,601 | 2,713 | 4.1 | 67,754 | 65,003 | 2,751 | 4.1 | 66,991 | 65,446 | 1,545 | 2.3 |
York County | Same | 135,272 | 129,782 | 5,490 | 4.1 | 139,847 | 134,130 | 5,717 | 4.1 | 141,067 | 137,920 | 3,147 | 2.2 |
Dorchester County | Same | 75,378 | 72,439 | 2,939 | 3.9 | 77,578 | 74,572 | 3,006 | 3.9 | 78,389 | 76,867 | 1,522 | 1.9 |
Berkeley County | Same | 100,269 | 96,423 | 3,846 | 3.8 | 103,180 | 99,271 | 3,909 | 3.8 | 104,458 | 102,325 | 2,133 | 2.0 |
Hampton County | Rate Up | 8,220 | 7,907 | 313 | 3.8 | 8,558 | 8,248 | 310 | 3.6 | 8,356 | 8,180 | 176 | 2.1 |
Kershaw County | Rate Up | 28,507 | 27,435 | 1,072 | 3.8 | 29,509 | 28,454 | 1,055 | 3.6 | 29,398 | 28,702 | 696 | 2.4 |
Anderson County | Rate Up | 91,200 | 87,818 | 3,382 | 3.7 | 93,625 | 90,243 | 3,382 | 3.6 | 91,561 | 89,578 | 1,983 | 2.2 |
Jasper County | Rate Up | 12,583 | 12,136 | 447 | 3.6 | 12,908 | 12,456 | 452 | 3.5 | 12,562 | 12,327 | 235 | 1.9 |
Aiken County | Rate Up | 71,322 | 68,835 | 2,487 | 3.5 | 74,313 | 71,912 | 2,401 | 3.2 | 74,754 | 73,038 | 1,716 | 2.3 |
Edgefield County | Rate Up | 10,172 | 9,812 | 360 | 3.5 | 10,609 | 10,271 | 338 | 3.2 | 10,671 | 10,433 | 238 | 2.2 |
Greenville County | Same | 255,188 | 246,199 | 8,989 | 3.5 | 262,098 | 252,940 | 9,158 | 3.5 | 256,029 | 251,056 | 4,973 | 1.9 |
Newberry County | Rate Up | 18,397 | 17,763 | 634 | 3.4 | 19,145 | 18,522 | 623 | 3.3 | 19,111 | 18,673 | 438 | 2.3 |
Beaufort County | Rate Up | 77,206 | 74,679 | 2,527 | 3.3 | 79,608 | 77,046 | 2,562 | 3.2 | 77,607 | 76,027 | 1,580 | 2.0 |
Pickens County | Rate Up | 57,170 | 55,273 | 1,897 | 3.3 | 58,577 | 56,738 | 1,839 | 3.1 | 57,671 | 56,334 | 1,337 | 2.3 |
Oconee County | Rate Up | 34,502 | 33,383 | 1,119 | 3.2 | 35,561 | 34,477 | 1,084 | 3.0 | 35,230 | 34,478 | 752 | 2.1 |
Lexington County | Rate Up | 146,398 | 141,802 | 4,596 | 3.1 | 151,379 | 146,855 | 4,524 | 3.0 | 150,943 | 148,155 | 2,788 | 1.8 |
Saluda County | Rate Up | 8,490 | 8,230 | 260 | 3.1 | 8,874 | 8,635 | 239 | 2.7 | 8,910 | 8,711 | 199 | 2.2 |
Charleston - North Charleston MSA | Same | 380,444 | 365,326 | 15,118 | 4.0 | 391,493 | 375,726 | 15,767 | 4.0 | 394,746 | 387,310 | 7,436 | 1.9 |
Columbia MSA | Rate Up | 395,282 | 379,920 | 15,362 | 3.9 | 408,889 | 393,562 | 15,327 | 3.7 | 405,600 | 396,988 | 8,612 | 2.1 |
Florence MSA | Same | 96,389 | 92,270 | 4,119 | 4.3 | 98,639 | 94,432 | 4,207 | 4.3 | 97,430 | 95,062 | 2,368 | 2.4 |
Greenville -Anderson-Mauldin MSA | Rate Up | 433,760 | 418,219 | 15,541 | 3.6 | 445,374 | 429,657 | 15,717 | 3.5 | 435,541 | 426,497 | 9,044 | 2.1 |
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED South Carolina | Rate Up | 2,325,535 | 2,223,349 | 102,186 | 4.4 | 2,387,736 | 2,287,192 | 100,544 | 4.2 | 2,383,533 | 2,326,821 | 56,712 | 2.4 |
Current month's estimates are preliminary. All data are subject to revision.