South Carolina’s Employment Situation – January 2018

Jobs grow to record level as employment and labor force increase

South Carolina employers added more than 3,000 jobs in January with the manufacturing and trade, transportation and utility sectors filling the majority of the jobs increase.

The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged up to 4.3 percent in January from December’s revised rate of 4.2 percent.

The number of individuals working increased by 463 to 2,221,308 people, while the number of unemployed individuals increased by 2,299 to 100,178. The state’s labor force increased by 2,762 to 2,321,486 people.

Since January 2017, the labor force has grown by 18,281 people, and employment gains totaled 21,773. The level of unemployed people decreased by 3,492.

Nationally, the unemployment rate was unchanged, remaining at 4.1 percent in January.

DEW Executive Director Cheryl Stanton’s Statement on January 2018 Employment Situation:

“Businesses continue to add jobs at a record pace. People are finding jobs and others are entering the labor force to take advantage of the state’s robust economy, all of which are cause for celebration. With more than 61,000 jobs available across the state, DEW is preparing our residents, including those with barriers to employment, to be able to succeed in those jobs,” said Cheryl Stanton, executive director of the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce. “Recently, the State Workforce Development Board awarded $400,000 in grants to two organizations – S.C. Vocational Rehabilitation Department and Trident Literacy Association – to assist out-of-school youths ages 16 to 24 develop the skills necessary to gain employment and by removing the barriers that are keeping them back.”

Nonfarm Employment by Industry (Seasonally Adjusted¹)

January 2018 seasonally adjusted, nonfarm payrolls increased by 3,100 over the month to a record level of 2,113,100.

• The state’s job count rose in Manufacturing (+3,100); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+2,400); Government (+400); Leisure and Hospitality (+200); Construction (+100); Education and Health Services (+100); and Information (+100).
• Industries recording job losses during the same month were Professional and Business Services (-1,800); Other Services (-1,000); and Financial Activities (-500).

From January 2017 to January 2018, South Carolina’s economy has added 28,800 seasonally adjusted, nonfarm jobs.

• Industries with noticeable gains were Leisure and Hospitality (+7,300); Manufacturing (+7,200); Education and Health Services (+4,900); Government (+2,600); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+2,400); Other Services (+2,100); Construction (+1,700); Professional and Business Services (+800); and Information (+400).
• Declines were reported in Financial Activities (-600).

Nonfarm Employment by Industry (Not Seasonally Adjusted²)

Not seasonally adjusted, nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 37,400 from December 2017 to January 2018 for a total of 2,077,100.

• Manufacturing (+1,900) was the only major industry to add jobs during the month.
• Mining and Logging remained the same.
• Industries declining during the month were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-10,400); Professional and Business Services (-9,500); Leisure and Hospitality (-7,100); Government (-6,100); Education and Health Services (-3,100); Other Services (-1,600); Construction (-500); Financial Activities (-500); and Information (-500).

Since January 2017, not seasonally adjusted, nonfarm jobs were up 31,400 overall in South Carolina.

• Industries marking annual gains were Manufacturing (+7,600); Leisure and Hospitality (+6,400); Education and Health Services (+5,600); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+4,100); Construction (+2,900); Government (+2,500); Other Services (+1,700); Financial Activities (+300); Information (+200); and Professional and Business Services (+100).
• Mining and Logging held steady.

About DEW

The S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) is putting South Carolinians to work. The agency invests in building a pipeline of quality workers, matches workers with jobs, and is a bridge for individuals who find themselves out of work for no fault of their own. This promotes financial stability and economic prosperity for employers, individuals and communities. DEW is dedicated to advancing South Carolina through services that meet the needs of the state’s businesses, jobseekers and those looking to advance their careers.