Which Sectors Account for the Most Employment in South Carolina?
By Lainey Stalnaker, Data Analytics Writer
Over the last few decades, South Carolina has experienced an influx of new businesses, people, and technology. The labor market has adapted to these shifts and looks quite different than it did 30 years ago, reflecting a changed employer landscape and evolving consumer demand.
In 1990, South Carolina’s local economies were overwhelmingly led by manufacturing. In 39 out of South Carolina’s 46 counties, the manufacturing sector was the largest employer. 29 percent of the state’s entire working population was employed in the sector, or more than one out of every four people. Manufacturing jobs had especially high relative concentrations in rural areas, such as Abbeville, McCormick, and Calhoun counties.
The outliers included Charleston, Dorchester, and Richland counties, where retail trade took the top spot, and Beaufort, Horry, and Jasper counties, where the accommodation and food services sector was the largest employer. Aiken was the sole county where workers were most commonly employed in the professional, scientific, and technical services sector. Figure 1 shows the largest employer in each county in Q1 1990.
Figure 1. Largest Sector Employment by County, Q1 1990
In 2026, manufacturing remains a major employer; however, the industry makeup has shifted. In 1990, 64 percent of all manufacturing employment was in a non-durable goods industry, such as apparel manufacturing, chemical manufacturing, and textile mills. In 2026, durable goods industries now make up the majority of manufacturing employment at 63 percent. These industries include fabricated metal product manufacturing, machinery manufacturing, and transportation equipment manufacturing, among others.
The manufacturing sector was the largest employer in 24 counties during Q1 2026, particularly those in the Upstate, such as Anderson, Cherokee, Laurens, Oconee, and Spartanburg counties, but other industries have also grown. Retail trade is now the largest employer in eight counties. The accommodation and food services sector took the top spot in five counties.
We’ve also seen the healthcare and social assistance sector rise in prominence, likely due to an increase in demand for healthcare services as a result of the state’s population aging. This sector was the largest employer in six counties, including two of the most populous: Greenville and Richland. The map below shows the largest sector in each county in Q1 2026. Manufacturing has maintained its importance to the state’s economy, but overall, the labor market has diversified.
Figure 2. Largest Sector Employment by County, Q1 2026
All data are sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.