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South Carolina

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Payroll employment in South Carolina increased in December, adding 4,500 jobs (0.2 percent). The unemployment rate is currently at 4.7 percent, declining slightly by 0.1 percentage points.

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Labor market icon showing three people Labor Market Conditions


  • "Labor market conditions in South Carolina improved in December. Payroll employment grew by 4,500 workers, on net, and the number of unemployed people declined." – Bethany Greene
  • Payroll employment in South Carolina increased in December, adding 4,500 jobs, on net (0.2 percent). These job gains were mainly concentrated in professional and business services, which added 1,600 jobs. However, job gains were partially offset by slight employment declines in manufacturing (300 jobs), leisure and hospitality (100 jobs) and government (100 jobs).
  • On a yearly basis, payroll employment grew by 64,400 jobs (2.8 percent). Annual job growth was led by education and health services (16,100 jobs), professional and business services (13,600 jobs) and government (11,600 jobs).
  • The unemployment rate in South Carolina is currently at 4.7 percent, declining slightly by 0.1 percentage points in December, but up 1.7 percentage points from last year. South Carolina's labor force continued to grow, adding 2,600 workers during the month.

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


  • Residential permitting activity grew by 8.8 percent from November 2024 to December 2024 and increased by 19.2 percent from December 2023 to December 2024.
  • According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, home values increased in Q3 of 2024 by 0.5 percent compared to Q2 of 2024. Compared to Q3 of 2023, home values grew by 5.5 percent in Q3 of 2024.
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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