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South Carolina

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Payroll employment in South Carolina increased 7,200 jobs (0.3 percent) in March. The unemployment rate remained constant at 3.1 percent.

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Labor market icon showing three people Labor Market Conditions

  • "South Carolina had a strong month of job growth, adding 7,200 jobs in March. The state is now 162,000 jobs above pre-COVID levels (up 7.4 percent)." — Laura Ullrich
  • Payroll employment in South Carolina increased 7,200 jobs (0.3 percent), on net, in March. The leisure and hospitality sector had the largest increase in jobs month-over month (2,300 jobs) followed by business and professional services (2,000 jobs) and education and health services (1,600 jobs). Additionally, trade, transportation, and utilities (900 jobs), government (500 jobs), and financial activities (300 jobs) each saw additional jobs added in March. Job declines occurred only in the construction sector (600 jobs).
  • On a year-over-year basis, payroll employment in South Carolina increased by 65,200 jobs (2.8 percent), on net.
  • The labor force in South Carolina continues to grow, increasing by 5,000 in March. The labor force is now up 4.8 percent compared to February 2020. The unemployment rate in South Carolina remained constant at 3.1 percent in March, up from 3.0 percent a year ago.

Housing Market icon showing a picture of a house Housing Market Conditions

  • Residential permitting activity increased 5.5 percent in South Carolina from January to February and was up 36.3 percent from its level a year ago.
  • According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, home values in South Carolina appreciated 7.8 percent from the fourth quarter of 2022 to the fourth quarter of 2023.
Snapshot Resources
  • Term Definitions

    Payroll Employment
    The number of nonfarm jobs (persons on payrolls) according to where those jobs are located.

    Unemployment Rate
    The number of unemployed persons (those not employed but available and searching for work) as a percent of the civilian labor force (the total number of employed plus unemployed persons).

    Industry Structure
    A breakdown of total nonfarm jobs by industry. Percentages sum to 100 percent.

    Industry Growth
    The percentage change in jobs in each industry from a year ago.

    Building Permits
    The number of privately owned single-family and multi-family units authorized in permit-issuing places.

    House Price Index
    A repeat sales index, measuring average price changes in repeat sales or refinancings on the same single-family properties.

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