COLUMBIA, S.C. — Employment rates in South Carolina are on the rise according to new data from the state’s Department of Employment and Workforce (SCDEW).
Roughly 60,000 households are surveyed each month by the Census Bureau to determine the national employment status. That data, along with other inputs, is used to estimate rates for South Carolina.
A report released on Monday evaluated rates for January 2025. It shows 2,439,684 workers were employed; 19,000 more people compared to this time last year.
“With notable increases in construction, manufacturing, and retail trade, South Carolina is continuing to experience stable levels of growth consistent with a healthy labor market,” said the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) Executive Director William Floyd.
January’s report also estimates a dip in the unemployment rate.
Numbers from Dec. 2024 to Jan. 2025 show a decrease of 3,297 to 4.3%, which is just slightly above the national average.
Compared to this time last year, that’s an unemployment dip of more than 23,000 workers.
The highest unemployment rate in the state is led by Williamsburg County.
- Williamsburg Co. – 7.4%
- Marlboro Co. – 7.1%
- Marion Co. – 6.1%
- Allendale Co. – 6%
- Orangeburg Co. – 6%
In comparison, the lowest unemployment rate in the state is led by Charleston County.
- Charleston Co. – 3.5 percent
- Lexington Co. – 3.6 percent
- Dorchester Co. – 3.6 percent
- Saluda Co. – 3.7 percent
- Greenville Co. – 3.7 percent
Meanwhile, the national unemployment rate decreased to 4 percent in Jan 2025.
The next update will be released on March 28 for February 2025.
_crop)
