Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Unemployment rate in South Carolina remains unchanged in December

Christina Lee Knauss //January 24, 2023//

Unemployment rate in South Carolina remains unchanged in December

Christina Lee Knauss //January 24, 2023//

Listen to this article

South Carolina’s unemployment rate remained at 3.3% for December, the same as October and November’s estimate, according to data released this week by the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce. Nationally, the unemployment rate declined from November’s revised rate of 3.6% to 3.5%, according to the Current Population Survey.  

During December, the estimate of unemployed people in the state decreased to 77,361, a decrease of 767 people from November and a decrease of 7,376 from December 2021, according to the DEW report.

The seasonally adjusted monthly survey estimated the number of South Carolinians working decreased to 2,300,110, a decrease of 2,528 over November but 13,549 more than the December 2021 estimate.

The state’s estimated labor force, which includes people working plus those looking for work, decreased to 2,377,471 from November’s level of 2,380,766. This is an increase of 3,295 people over the November estimate, but an increase of 6,173 people from December 2021.

During December, the state saw an estimated decrease of 3,100 nonfarm payroll jobs over the month to a level of 2,243,6000.  Industries that reported gains were leisure and hospitality, education and health services, manufacturing, trade, transportation and utilities, and other services. Declines were reported in professional and business services, government, construction, financial activities and information.