South Carolina’s Employment Situation June 2013

In June, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increasedslightly to 8.1 percent, up from 8.0 percent in May. In June, the number of unemployed people rose by 1,904 for a total of 174,423, and thenumber of those who are employed decreased by 4,767 bringing the levelof employed South Carolinians to 1,991,908. Overall, the labor forcedeclined by 2,863 making a total of 2,166,331 persons in South Carolinawho are either working or searching for work.

Nationally, the unemployment rate remained at 7.6 percent.

Nonagricultural Employment by Industry (Seasonally Adjusted1)

June’s seasonally adjusted, non-farm payrolls increased by 14,300 overthe month, to 1,889,500, experiencing the largest monthly gain in SouthCarolina’s workforce since October 2006.

•     South Carolina saw marked gains in Trade, Transportation, andUtilities (+7,200); Professional and Business Services (+4,400); Leisure and Hospitality (+2,900); Construction (+1,100); and Manufacturing(+1,000).
•     Industries experiencing declines were Education and HealthServices (-1,200), Financial Activities (-600), Other Services (-300),and Government (-200).

Since June of 2012, seasonally adjusted non-farm jobs were up 31,500.

•     Industries with gains were Leisure and Hospitality (+10,700); Trade,Transportation, and Utilities (+8,500); Financial Activities (+4,100);Construction (+3,300); and Government (+5,100).
•     Additional gains occurred in Manufacturing (+1,800), Education and Health Services (+900), and Information (+400).
•     Declines were seen in Professional and Business Services (-1,800).

Nonagricultural Employment by Industry (Not Seasonally Adjusted2)

The not-seasonally adjusted, non-farm payroll employment in June increasedby 10,100 over the month, to 1,906,500. This was the largest May-to-June increase in South Carolina’s payroll employment since 2000.

•     Firm gains occurred in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+7,400);Leisure and Hospitality (+6,800); Professional and Business Services(+3,600); Construction (+2,100); and Manufacturing (+1,000).Manufacturing reversed its prior two-month decline.
•     Fourindustries experienced declines: Government (-7,000), Education andHealth Services (-3,600), Other Services (-200), and FinancialActivities (-100).
•     Government’s decrease was due to thecontinued summer ramp down in the Education and Health industry atpublic and private universities, as well as primary and secondaryschools across the state.
•     During the last 12 months, not-seasonally adjusted non-farm jobs were up 31,200 overall in South Carolina’s workforce.