The number of individuals working across the state increased substantially, by an estimated 5,582 people, marking a new record of 2,260,509 for the Palmetto State.

Unemployment estimates showed little change over the month, decreasing by 421 to 74,823 people. The state’s labor force increased by 5,161 to 2,335,332 people, as the almost all of jobseekers entering the labor force found jobs.

The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.2 percent from the revised December 2018 rate of 3.2 percent.

Since January of 2018, employment gains moved notably higher by approximately 35,251 people, and the labor force estimate rose by 19,237 people. The level of unemployed moved significantly lower by roughly 16,014 people.

Nationally, the unemployment rate increased to 4.0 percent from December’s estimate of 3.9 percent.

Nonagricultural Employment by Industry (Seasonally Adjusted, 1)

In January 2019, seasonally adjusted, nonfarm payrolls increased by 7,400 over the month to a record level of 2,173,900.

The increase was mostly due to the influence in employment levels occurring in Trade Transportation, and Utilities (+2,600); Professional and Business Services (+1,900); Manufacturing (+1,500); Leisure and Hospitality (+1,100); and Government (+800). Also reporting marginal increases were Information (+200); Education and Health Services (+200); and Financial Activities (+100).
Industries reporting declines were Construction (-800) and Other Services (-300).
From January 2018 to January 2019, South Carolina’s economy has added 34,300 seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs.

Industries marking growth were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+11,700); Professional and Business Services (+8,200); Manufacturing (+7,400); Education and Health Services (+5,200); Leisure and Hospitality (+3,300); Government (+3,000); Information (+600); and Financial Activities (+100).
However, noticeable decreases were seen in Construction (-3,900) and Other Services (-1,400).

Nonagricultural Employment by Industry (Not Seasonally Adjusted, 2)

Not seasonally adjusted, nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 35,000 from December 2018 to January 2019 for a total of 2,138,100. This decline is a typical for the December-to-January time period due to seasonal layoffs and school closings between terms.

The only industries that saw growth were in Manufacturing (+500) and Mining and Logging (+100).
Industries reporting losses were seen in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-10,900); Leisure and Hospitality (-6,900); Professional and Business Services (-5,900); Government (-4,600); Education and Health Services (-3,900); Construction (-1,500); Other Services (-1,300); Information (-300); and Financial Activities (-300).
Since January 2018, not seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs were up 36,300 overall in South Carolina.

Industries marking strong annual gains were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+12,900); Professional and Business Services (+8,800); Manufacturing (7,900); Education and Health Services (+5,100); Government (+2,500); Leisure and Hospitality (+2,400); Financial Activities (+600); Information (+500); and Mining and Logging (+100).
Industries reporting declines were Construction (-2,800) and Other Services (-1,700).

 

Key for Note items 1 and 2

Note	Explanation
(1)	Seasonal adjustment removes the effects of events that follow a more or less regular pattern each year (i.e. tourist-related hiring and school closings in the summer). These adjustments make it easier to observe the cyclical and other nonseasonal movements in data over time.
(2)	Not Seasonally Adjusted: Effects of regular or seasonal patterns have not been removed from these data.

 

Nonfarm Employment by Industry, Seasonally Adjusted

Statewide

January 2019

				Dec. to Jan. 2019	Dec. to Jan. 2019	Jan. 2018 to Jan. 2019	Jan. 2018 to Jan. 2019
Area	January 2019	December 2019	January 2018	# Change	% Change	# Change	% Change
Total Nonfarm Employment	2,173,900	2,166,500	2,139,600	7,400	0.34%	34,300	1.60%
Construction	99,900	100,700	103,800	-800	-0.80%	-3,900	-3.76%
Manufacturing	252,000	250,500	244,600	1,500	0.60%	7,400	3.03%
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities	415,300	412,700	403,600	2,600	0.63%	11,700	2.90%
Information	28,400	28,200	27,800	200	0.70%	600	2.16%
Finance Activities	104,000	103,900	103,900	100	0.10%	100	0.10%
Professional and Business Services	300,900	299,000	292,700	1,900	0.63%	8,200	2.80%
Education and Health Services	255,200	255,000	250,000	200	0.08%	5,200	2.08%
Leisure and Hospitality	267,200	266,100	263,900	1,100	0.41%	3,300	1.25%
Other Services	75,200	75,500	76,600	-300	-0.40%	-1,400	-1.83%
Government	371,300	370,500	368,300	800	0.22%	3,000	0.81%

 

Nonfarm Employment by Industry, Not Seasonally Adjusted

Statewide

January 2019

				Dec. to Jan. 2019	Dec. to Jan. 2019	Jan. 2018 to Jan. 2019	Jan. 2018 to Jan. 2019
Area	January 2019	December 2019	January 2018	# Change	% Change	# Change	% Change
Total Nonfarm Employment	2,138,100	2,173,100	2,101,800	-35,00	-1.61%	36,300	1.73%
Mining and Logging	4,500	4,400	4,400	100	2.27%	100	2.27%
Construction	99,200	100,700	102,000	-1,500	-1.49%	-2,800	-2.75%
Manufacturing	251,700	251,200	243,800	500	0.20%	7,900	3.24%
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities	410,500	421,400	397,600	-10,900	-2.59%	12,900	3.24%
Information	28,100	28,400	27,600	-300	-1.06%	500	1.81%
Financial Activities	103,100	103,400	102,500	-300	-0.29%	600	0.59%
Professional and Business Services	294,900	300,800	286,100	-5,900	-1.96%	8,800	3.08%
Education and Health Services	253,100	257,000	248,000	-3,900	-1.52%	5,100	2.06%
Leisure and Hospitality	248,300	255,200	245,900	-6,900	-2.70%	2,400	0.98%
Other Services	74,300	75,600	76,000	-1,300	-1.72%	-1,700	-2.24%
Government	370,400	375,000	367,900	-4,600	-1.23%	2,500	0.68%

 

Nonfarm Employment by Area, Seasonally Adjusted

South Carolina & Metropolitan Seasonally Adjusted

January 2019

				Dec. to Jan. 2019	Dec. to Jan. 2019	Jan. 2018 to Jan. 2019	Jan. 2018 to Jan. 2019
Area	January 2019	December 2019	January 2018	# Change	% Change	# Change	% Change
Statewide	2,173,900	2,166,500	2,139,600	7,400	0.34%	34,300	1.60%
Charleston/North Charleston MSA	371,200	370,600	362,000	600	0.16%	9,200	2.54%
Columbia MSA	403,900	402,700	399,500	1,200	0.30%	4,400	1.10%
Florence MSA	92,500	91,900	91,500	600	0.65%	1,000	1.09%
Greenville/Anderson/Mauldin MSA	428,800	427,000	423,800	1,800	0.42%	5,000	1.18%
Hilton Head-Bluffton-Beaufort MSA	84,400	83,200	81,100	1,200	1.42%	3,300	4.07%
Myrtle Beach MSA	176,300	176,500	170,600	-200	-0.11%	5,700	3.34%
Spartanburg MSA	160,500	158,600	156,800	1,900	1.18%	3,700	2.36%
Sumter MSA	40,700	40,900	40,100	-200	-0.49%	600	1.50%

Note: Employment estimates have been rounded to the nearest hundred. Sum of detail may not equal totals due to rounding or the exclusion of certain industries from publication. All data are subject to revision.

Nonfarm Employment by Area, Not Seasonally Adjusted

South Carolina & Metropolitan Not Seasonally Adjusted

January 2019

				Dec. to Jan. 2019	Dec. to Jan. 2019	Jan. 2018 to Jan. 2019	Jan. 2018 to Jan. 2019
Area	January 2019	December 2019	January 2018	# Change	% Change	# Change	% Change
Statewide	2,138,100	2,173,100	2,101,800	-35,000	-1,.61%	36,300	1.73%
Charleston/North Charleston MSA	365,400	371,900	357,200	-6,500	-1.75%	8,200	2.30%
Columbia MSA	398,800	402,300	395,100	-6,500	1.60%	3,700	0.94%
Florence MSA	91,500	92,500	90,300	-1,000	-1,.08%	1,200	1.33%
Greenville MSA	423,800	431,000	419,500	-7,200	-1.67%	4,300	1.03%
Hilton Head-Bluffton-Beaufort MSA	81,400	81,600	78,700	-200	-0.25%	2,700	3.43%
Myrtle Beach MSA/Conway/N. Myrtle Beach MSA	165,200	169,100	160,400	-3.900	-2.31%	4,800	2.99%
Spartanburg MSA	159,000	160,400	156,100	-1,400	-0.87%	2,900	1.86%
Sumter MSA	40,500	41,200	39,800	-700	-1.70%	700	1.76%

Note: Employment estimates have been rounded to the nearest hundred. Sum of detail may not equal totals due to rounding or the exclusion of certain industries from publication. All data are subject to revision.

 

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

LOCAL AREA UNEMPLOYMENT ESTIMATES BY COUNTY, MSA, AND STATE

(NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED)

Area	Rate Up/Rate Down/Same	Labor Force	Jan. 2019 Employment	Jan. 2019 Unemployment Level	Jan. 2019 Unemployment Rate	Labor Force	Dec. 2019 Employment	Dec. 2019 Unemployment Level	Dec. 2019 Unemployment Rate	Labor Force	Jan. 2018 Employment	Jan. 2018 Unemployment Level	Jan. 2018 Unemployment Rate
Bamberg County	Rate Up	5,086	4,752	334	6.6	5,280	4,966	314	5.9	5,287	4,853	434	8.2
Allendale County	Rate Up	2,845	2,671	174	6.1	2,824	2,663	161	5.7	2,846	2,609	237	8.3
Fairfield County	Rate Up	9,773	9,197	576	5.9	9,907	9,376	531	5.4	10,196	9,171	1,025	10.1
Marion County	Rate Up	13,129	12,374	755	5.8	12,556	11,850	706	5.6	12,615	11,560	1,055	8.4
Orangeburg County	Rate Up	35,146	33,120	2,026	5.8	35,402	33,496	1,906	5.4	35,529	32,723	2,806	7.9
Williamsburg County	Rate Up	12,651	11,925	726	5.7	12,674	12,005	669	5.3	12,733	11,753	980	7.7
Horry County	Rate Up	142,086	134,358	7,728	5.4	141,408	134,878	6,530	4.6	138,881	129,134	9,747	7.0
Georgetown County	Rate Up	26,263	24,907	1,356	5.2	25,976	24,776	1,200	4.6	25,935	24,143	1,791	6.9
Marlboro County	Rate Up	9,349	8,874	475	5.1	9,400	8,952	448	4.8	9,422	8,751	671	7.1
Dillon County	Rate Up	13,092	12,434	658	5.0	12,882	12,281	601	4.7	12,881	12,041	840	6.5
Chester County	Rate Up	13,412	12,754	658	4.9	13,751	13,131	620	4.5	13,701	12,795	906	6.6
Barnwell County	Rate Up	8,513	8,108	405	4.8	8,206	7,820	386	4.7	8,234	7,670	564	6.8
Clarendon County	Rate Up	12,917	12,301	616	4.8	12,632	12,074	558	4.4	12,706	11,824	882	6.9
Lee County	Rate Up	6,737	6,417	320	4.7	6,438	6,166	272	4.2	6,452	6,044	408	6.3
Calhoun County	Rate Up	6,710	6,411	299	4.5	6,841	6,553	288	4.2	6,799	6,413	386	5.7
Abbeville County	Rate Up	10,244	9,802	442	4.3	10,213	9,830	383	3.8	10,175	9,591	584	5.7
Darlington County	Rate Up	30,439	29,170	1,269	4.2	29,761	28,580	1,181	4.0	29,894	28,117	1,777	5.9
McCormick County	Rate Up	3,502	3,354	148	4.2	3,427	3,307	120	3.5	3,433	3,241	192	5.6
Union County	Rate Up	11,646	11,162	484	4.2	11,727	11,273	454	3.9	11,855	11,115	740	6.2
Lancaster County	Rate Up	39,937	38,299	1,638	4.1	39,773	38,323	1,450	3.6	39,477	37,330	2,147	5.4
Sumter County	Rate Up	44,362	42,587	1,775	4.0	44,103	42,465	1,638	3.7	44,377	41,746	2,631	5.9
Colleton County	Rate Up	17,061	16,394	667	3.9	17,163	16,552	611	3.6	17,135	16,136	999	5.8
Florence County	Rate Up	66,585	64,037	2,548	3.8	62,283	62,968	2,315	3.5	65,382	61,876	3,506	5.4
Greenwood County	Rate Up	31,519	30,319	1,200	3.8	31,192	30,100	1,092	3.5	31,056	29,393	1,663	5.4
Richland County	Rate Up	196,586	189,376	7,210	3.7	198,762	192,341	6,421	3.2	197,761	187,890	9,871	5.0
Cherokee County	Rate Up	25,652	24,734	918	3.6	24,392	23,551	841	3.4	24,383	23,059	1,324	5.4
Chesterfield County	Rate Up	22,446	21,643	803	3.6	21,979	21,252	727	3.3	21,831	20,773	1,058	4.8
Hampton County	Rate Up	8,407	8,108	299	3.6	8,378	8,110	268	3.2	8,338	7,920	418	5.0
Kershaw County	Rate Up	28,982	27,933	1,049	3.6	28,977	28,017	960	3.3	28,884	27,399	1,485	5.1
Laurens County	Rate Up	29,896	28,834	1,062	3.6	30,397	29,402	995	3.3	30,431	28,853	1,578	5.2
Pickens County	Rate Up	56,262	54,319	1,943	3.5	56,999	55,253	1,746	3.1	56,959	54,189	2,770	4.9
Anderson County	Rate Up	89,646	86,608	3,038	3.4	90,299	87,551	2,748	3.0	90,133	85,885	4,248	4.7
York County	Rate Up	135,603	130,960	4,643	3.4	135,635	131,479	4,156	3.1	134,278	128,008	6,270	4.7
Aiken County	Rate Up	74,683	72,183	2,500	3.3	75,142	72,876	2,266	3.0	75,987	72,381	3,606	4.7
Beaufort County	Rate Up	75,430	72,956	2,474	3.3	73,953	71,746	2,207	3.0	72,985	69,472	3,513	4.8
Edgefield County	Rate Up	10,706	10,349	357	3.3	10,651	10,320	331	3.1	10,795	10,259	536	5.0
Oconee County	Rate Up	35,738	34,558	1,180	3.3	34,853	33,801	1,052	3.0	34,819	33,066	1,753	5.0
Berkeley County	Rate Up	101,141	97,892	3,249	3.2	98,855	95,945	2,910	2.9	97,383	93,051	4,332	4.4
Dorchester County	Rate Up	75,154	72,729	2,425	3.2	74,595	72,377	2,218	3.0	73,469	70,203	3,266	4.4
Jasper County	Rate Up	12,285	11,894	391	3.2	12,249	11,911	338	2.8	12,089	11,544	545	4.5
Newberry County	Rate Up	19,090	18,481	609	3.2	18,747	18,198	549	2.9	18,707	17,815	892	4.8
Spartanburg County	Rate Up	148,712	143,995	4,717	3.2	146,396	142,209	4,187	2.9	146,913	140,224	6,689	4.6
Greenville County	Rate Up	248,742	241,125	7,617	3.1	249,505	242,625	6,880	2.8	248,589	237,981	10,608	4.3
Saluda County	Rate Up	9,011	8,729	282	3.1	8,930	8,670	260	2.9	8,928	8,522	406	4.5
Charleston County	Rate Up	206,611	200,629	5,982	2.9	205,979	200,519	5,460	2.7	202,700	194,511	8,189	4.0
Lexington County	Rate Up	147,231	142,954	4,277	2.9	147,333	143,414	3,919	2.7	146,364	140,178	6,186	4.2
Charleston - North Charleston MSA	Rate Up	382,906	371,250	11,656	3.0	379,429	368,841	10,588	2.8	373,552	357,765	15,787	4.2
Columbia MSA	Rate Up	398,293	384,600	13,693	3.4	400,750	388,371	12,379	3.1	398,932	379,573	19,359	4.9
Florence MSA	Rate Up	97,024	93,207	3,817	3.9	95,044	91,548	3,496	3.7	95,276	89,993	5,283	5.5
Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin MSA	Rate Up	424,546	410,886	13,660	3.2	427,200	414,831	12,369	2.9	426,112	406,908	19,204	4.5
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED South Carolina	-	2,335,332	2,260,509	74,823	3.2	2,330,171	2,254,927	75,244	3.2	2,316,095	2,225,258	90,837	3.9

Current month's estimates are preliminary. All data are subject to revision.