Unemployment in S.C. remains unchanged at 3.2%

Listen to this article

The state’s unemployment rate remained unchanged in January from December 2018 at 3.2% while the number of people working increased by an estimated 5,582 to a record 2,260,509.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was revised from 3.3% to 3.2% in December 2018, according to the S.C.  Department of Employment and Workforce.

The national unemployment rate increased to 4% from December 2018’s estimate of 3.9%.

South Carolina’s labor force increased by 5,161 to 2,335,332 people. Since January 2018, employment has increased by 35,251 people, while the labor force has risen by 19,237 people.

In January 2019, the trade, transportation and utilities industry saw a 2,600 increase in workers, while construction jobs dropped by 800.

Though the state’s overall unemployment rate remained unchanged, unemployment ticked up in every county from December 2018 to January 2019. Unemployment rose from 3.2% to 3.7% in Richland County and from 2.7% to 2.9% in Lexington.

In January 2018, unemployment stood at 5% in Richland County and 4.2% in Lexington County.