South Carolina’s Employment Situation May 2012
June 15, 2012
Unemployment Rate Increases; More South Carolinians Enter the Labor Force
The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 9.1 percent in May from 8.8 percent in April. This marks South Carolina’s firstrate increase in 10 months as more people entered the labor force.
The number of unemployed people increased this month by 5,861 to195,905. At the same time, the number of employed people decreased by3,886 to 1,957,360.
Nationally, the unemployment rate increased slightly from 8.1 percent in April to 8.2 percent in May, with about 642,000 people entering thelabor force in May.
The not seasonally adjusted non-farm payroll survey showed anincrease of 16,800 jobs from April to May 2012, with gains in most major sectors. Over 75 percent of the increase was driven by gains in Trade,Transportation and Utilities (+4,700); Professional and BusinessServices (+4,700); and Leisure and Hospitality (+3,700). Construction(+1,400) noted an improvement for the third consecutive month asSpecialty Trade Contractors experienced increased demand. Alsoacknowledging increases were Education and Health Services (+1,100) aswell as Financial Activities (+1,000). Minor increases of 100 each werenoted in Information and Government. Manufacturing posted the only lossamong major sectors this month, declining by 200 jobs.
Since May 2011, total non-farm employment rose by 21,400 jobs.Manufacturing (+7,000) and Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+7,100)registered the greatest gains over the year. The sub-sectors ofEmployment Services (+5,900) as well as Health Care and SocialAssistance (+3,300) also reported notable gains for the year.
Online job ads in South Carolina, as reported by the Conference Board Help Wanted OnLine® data series, showed a small increase of about 600ads from April to May. The number of jobseekers per opening roseslightly from 3.6 to 3.7 this past month. Online ads across the UnitedStates saw a decrease (-45,700) in the last month. Compared to a yearago, online ads in South Carolina were about 2,100 higher in May 2012.
The Trident Workforce Area (Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchestercounties) had the most ads (13,037), with the Midlands Workforce Area(Fairfield, Lexington, and Richland counties) coming in next (11,536).Of all online ads, Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupationshad the highest number of ads in the state (9,932).
Despite our unemployment rate edging up this month, more than 24,000 of our fellow citizens have found jobs in the past year, said AbrahamJ. Turner, executive director of the SC Department of Employment andWorkforce. Historically, South Carolina’s unemployment ratefluctuations have mirrored the movements of the national rate, and thismonth is no exception. We are encouraged that people are entering thelabor force searching for employment, and DEW continues to remainfocused on putting South Carolinians back to work.
