Unemployment rate in SC rises in September

Listen to this article

South Carolina’s unemployment rate increased to 3.2% in September from August’s estimate of 3.1%, according to data released Oct. 21 by the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce.

During September, the state saw a decrease of 1,400 nonfarm payroll jobs, according to the DEW report, with declines reported in trade, transportation and utilities, construction, government, and other services. Industries that reported gains were professional and business services, information, education and health services, financial activities and manufacturing.

The national unemployment rate for September decreased to 3.5% from 3.7%.

The seasonally adjusted monthly survey estimated the number of South Carolinians working at 2,315,768, a decrease from 4,431 from August and an increase of 35,534 workers over Sept. 21 estimates, the report said.

The number of unemployed people in the state rose from 74,539 to 75,424, an increase of 903 people from the September estimate but still 13,958 less than were unemployed in Sept. 2021.

The state’s estimated labor force, which includes people working plus those looking for work, decreased to 2,391,192, a drop of 3,528 from August’s estimate but still 21,576 more than Sept. 2021.

Richland County’s unemployment rate decreased to 3.1% from 3.3%, and Lexington County decreased from 2.6% to 2.5%.

The Columbia metropolitan statistical area added 1,300 jobs from August to September, while the Charleston/North Charleston area lost 400 and Greenville/Anderson/Mauldin lost 500.

“Wages in South Carolina are at an all-time high and the state is overflowing with job opportunities,” Dan Ellzey, executive director of DEW, said in a news release. “While unemployment has edged up slightly and employment has dropped, overall the numbers have remained steady and strong for the last several months.”

Ellzey noted that there are currently 106,000 open jobs with average hourly earnings at $28.59 posted at SC Works Online Services.