South Carolina’s Employment Situation April 2015

Employment Continues to Soar – Exceeds 2.1 Million People for the First Time

The number of employed South Carolinians broke a major barrier for the first time in April exceeding the 2.1 million threshold. The number of South Carolinians working in April reached 2,104,590 people, an increase of 8,106 from March. During the first four months of 2015, people across the state entered the labor force at historic levels and found employment opportunities as the state’s economy continued expanding at a robust pace.

The labor force (people working and searching for work) was estimated at 2,256,118, an increase of 9,875 over the month, marking a record as well.

The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 6.7 percent, as the labor force expanded for the fifteenth consecutive month. The estimated number of unemployed persons was 151,528, showing modest increase since March of 1,769 people.

Nationally, the unemployment rate declined from 5.5 to 5.4 percent.

 

Nonagricultural Employment by Industry (Seasonally Adjusted¹)

With an over-the-month increase of 11,500, April’s seasonally adjusted, nonfarm payrolls increased to a record level of 1,998,500.

• Strong increases were reported in Professional and Business Services (+4,500); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+2,800); and Educational and Health Services (+2,100) with additional gains in Construction (+1,000); Leisure and Hospitality (+800); Government (+500); and Other Services (+300).
• Industries reporting modest declines were Manufacturing (-300) and Information (-100).

Compared to April 2014, seasonally adjusted, nonfarm jobs were up 56,100.

• The largest increases were noted in Professional and Business Services (+13,500); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+10,700); Leisure and Hospitality (+7,800); and Education and Health Services (+7,600).
• Other gains were seen in Construction (+5,800); Government (+5,000); Manufacturing (+4,000); and Other Services (+1,500).

  

Nonagricultural Employment by Industry (Not Seasonally Adjusted²)

The not seasonally adjusted, nonfarm payroll employment in April registered an over the month increase of 23,900 to set a record level of 2,006,000. Growth was concentrated in Leisure and Hospitality (+8,400); Professional and Business Services (+6,400); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+4,100); Education and Health Services (+2,500); and Construction (+1,900). Smaller gains were seen in Government (+800) and Other Services (+200). Losses occurred in Financial Activities (-300) and Natural Resources and Mining (-100).

From April 2014 to April 2015, not seasonally adjusted, nonfarm jobs were up 54,800 with strong annual gains in Professional and Business Services (+12,400); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+11,700); Education and Health Services (+8,600); Leisure and Hospitality (+6,400); Construction (+6,000); Government (+5,400); and Manufacturing (+3,700). Smaller growth was reported in Other Services (+1,000) and Information (+100). Financial Activities (-500) saw a loss, while Natural Resources and Mining remained stable.

 

1Seasonally Adjusted: 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. 2Not Seasonally Adjusted: Effects of regular or seasonal patterns have not been removed from these data.

 

 

DEW Executive Director Cheryl M. Stanton’s Statement April 2015 Employment Situation

“The positive economy in South Carolina is drawing more and more people into the workforce as evidenced by this month’s record breaking number of citizens who are employed. In the last month, nearly 10,000 South Carolinians entered the labor force showing that our state is optimistic about job opportunities.”

 

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