SC’s June unemployment rate estimated at 3.2%

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South Carolina’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.2% in June, down from May’s estimate of 3.3%, with the state’s economy adding 76,100 jobs in the last 12 months.

The S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce’s monthly, seasonally adjusted survey of households found the number of South Carolinians increased to 2,326,257, a jump of 4,288 people from May to June 2022 and an increase of 56,048 from the June 2021 estimate. DEW’s estimate of unemployed people dropped to 78,101, a decrease of 1,028 from May and of 19,244 from June 2021.

Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged from May to June at 3.6%.

South Carolina’s estimated labor force, or people working plus unemployed people looking for work, increased to 2,404,358, up 3,260 from May and 36,804 from June 2021’s estimate.

Unemployment rates rose in every S.C. county. Marlboro County has a state-high 7.1% unemployment rate, while Lexington and Charleston counties have the lowest at 2.9%.

Lexington County’s rate rose from 2.5% in May and stood at 3.5% in June 2021. Richland County’s unemployment rate rose to 3.6% in June from 3.2% in May and stood at 4.6% last June.

Nonfarm industries adding jobs from May to June included government, which added 2,100 jobs, and trade, transportation and utilities, which added 1,000. Construction saw a decrease of 900 jobs.

From June 2021 to June 2022, the trade, transportation and utilities industry has added 21,800 jobs, while leisure and hospitality has added 20,600, according to DEW statistics. Construction has lost 800 jobs year-to-year.

The Columbia metropolitan statistical area added 700 jobs from May to June and has gained 8,100 from June 2021 to June 2022. Charleston/North Charleston added 2,300 jobs month-to-month and has added 17,500 year-to-year, while Greenville/Anderson/Mauldin added 400 jobs month-to-month and 19,800 year-to-year.

The Spartanburg MSA lost 300 jobs month-to-month and has added 3,700 in the last 12 months.

“The economy remains strong with tens of thousands of job postings in the SC Works Online Services database,” Dan Ellzey, DEW executive director, said in a news release. “While federal payroll figures may show the economy is slowing down nationally, South Carolina local area unemployment statistics show increases in employment in the household survey, and current employment statistics survey of businesses continue to show an increase in jobs. The methodology to gather national numbers is very different than that used for states, but, overall, our state’s economy remains robust as employers continue to look for workers.”