Employment and Workforce Executive Director William Floyd’s Statement

March 2026 Employment Situation

Columbia, S.C. – "South Carolina continued to add to both its labor force and employment numbers in March 2026, with the number of residents working reaching a new all-time high of 2,532,080. Over the past year, the state’s labor force has increased by over 73,400 people, which has increased the labor force participation rate to 58.9 percent," stated South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) Executive Director William Floyd.  

“The estimated number of unemployed individuals in the state dropped slightly month-over-month resulting in the unemployment rate dropping 0.1 percentage points to 4.9 percent,” continued Floyd. 

“In terms of industry employment, job growth was once again concentrated in the service sector, including strong year-over-year growth in Health Care and Social Assistance, Other Services, Private Educational Services, and Accommodation and Food Services. In the goods sector over the past year, the Construction industry added 2,600 jobs while manufacturing increased by 1,900,” stated Floyd.

“In March, our agency completed its 2025 Workforce Champion Award tour in which I had the privilege of traveling the state visiting eleven regional finalists and the Grand Prize Winner, Michelin North America, Inc. Launched in 2023, this award honors an employer that has displayed extraordinary efforts in connecting educators and students with employment or career exploration opportunities in South Carolina, and the winner is announced annually at the Governor’s Mansion in September during Workforce Development Month,” said Floyd.

“From rural areas to metropolitan cities, healthcare to manufacturing careers, and school tours to internships, these employers are enriching our communities by meeting the goals of the Coordinating Council for Workforce Development’s Unified State Plan, spreading awareness of the industries and jobs available in each region, training students for priority occupations, and helping them overcome obstacles. Learn more about all of the employers that comprise the 2025 Workforce Champion cohort and watch videos from the tour at dew.sc.gov/workforce-champion-award. DEW has announced its 2026 Workforce Champion Award competition this week, and we look forward to celebrating even more of our state’s exemplary employers who invest in our youth,” concluded Floyd.

As a reminder, today’s publication of the March data is delayed due to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) annual revision of national estimates. The BLS used the first quarter of this year to benchmark statistics, having revised or adjusted some data. Due to this benchmarking period, April numbers will be released on May 22. The BLS’ full schedule of releases for the calendar year is available here.