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South Carolina Employment Situation February 2020

Fri, 03/27/2020

 

South Carolina’s Employment Situation

February 2020

Employment Grows to New Record

Labor Force Expansion Continues

 

I. Household Survey(1)

Employment: The monthly survey of households across the state estimated the number of South Carolinians working moved higher, establishing a new record of 2,333,217.

  • That is an increase of 2,720 people over January 2020.
  • That is also a significant increase of 43,727 people over February 2019.

Unemployment: Unemployment estimates increased to 58,614 people.

  • That is an increase of 2,015 people since January 2020 and a significant decrease of 21,956 over February 2019.
  • The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 2.5 percent over the month from January’s rate of 2.4 percent. This marks the first increase since August of 2019.
  • Nationally, the unemployment rate moved lower to 3.5 percent from January’s estimate of 3.6 percent.

Labor force: The state’s estimated labor force (people working plus unemployed people looking for work) increased to 2,391,831.

  • That is an increase of 4,735 people since Janaury 2020.
  • That is an increase of 21,771 individuals over February 2019.

 

II. Current Employment Survey(2)

Nonagricultural Employment by Industry (Seasonally Adjusted(3))

The Current Employment Survey of businesses in South Carolina marked an increase of 3,100 nonfarm payroll jobs over the month to a record high level of 2,218,300.

  • Industries reporting increases in employment were Professional and Business Services (+2,300); Leisure and Hospitality (+1,300); Construction (+1,000); Education and Health Services (+500); Government (+300); Information (+300); and Financial Activities (+100).
  • Decreases were noticed in the Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-1,500); Other Services (-1,100); and Manufacturing (-100) industry.

From February 2019 to February 2020, South Carolina’s economy has added 45,100 seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs.

  • Industries with strong growth were Leisure and Hospitality (+13,600); Professional and Business Services (+9,500); Government (+7,000); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+4,800); Construction (+3,800); Education and Health Services (+3,200); Manufacturing (+2,200); Other Services (+900); and Information (+300).
  • Decreases were seen in Financial Activities (-300).

Nonagricultural Employment by Industry (Not Seasonally Adjusted(2))

Not seasonally adjusted, non farm payroll employment increased by 13,300 from January 2020 to February 2020 for a total of 2,195,500. This increase is a typical trend for the January-to-February time period due to returns from layoffs and school closings between terms.

  • Industries showing growth during this period were: Leisure and Hospitality (+6,400); Professional and Business Services (+3,700); Government (+3,300); Education and Health Services (+1,900); Construction (+1,500); Manufacturing (+600); and Information (+100).
  • Industries reporting declines were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-3,600) and Other Services (-600). Mining and Logging and Financial Activities remained flat.

Since February 2019, not seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs were up 40,400 overall in South Carolina.

  • Industries marking prominent annual gains were Leisure and Hospitality (+13,700); Professional and Business Services (+8,400); Government (+5,900); Construction (+3,800); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+3,500); Education and Health Services (+2,500); Manufacturing (+2,000); and Other Services (+600).
  • No industries recorded an over the year loss. Information, Financial Activities and Mining and Logging all remained flat.

 

Key for Note items 1 through 4
Note Explanation
(1) Household Survey (Current Population Survey): is a monthly survey of about 60,000 households conducted by the Census Bureau for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This survey provides monthly statistics on employment, unemployment, and related subjects analyzed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
(2) Current Employment Statistics Survey: is a monthly survey of about 40,000 employers which yields estimates of nonagricultural wage and salary employment, hours, and earnings by industry.
(3) Seasonally 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.
(4) Not Seasonally Adjusted: Effects of regular or seasonal patterns have not been removed from these data

 

Nonfarm Employment by Industry, Seasonally Adjusted

Statewide

February 2020
        Jan. to Feb. 2020 Jan. to Feb. 2020  Feb. 2019 to Feb. 2020 Feb. 2019 to Feb. 2020
Area February 2020 Jan. 2020 February 2019 # Change % Change # Change % Change
Total Nonfarm Employment 2,218,300 2,215,200 2,173,200 3,100 0.14% 45,100 2.08%
Construction 110,000 109,000 106,200 1,000 0.91% 3,800 3.58%
Manufacturing 258,400 258,500 256,200 -100 -0.04% 2,200 0.86%
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities 410,600 412,100 405,800 -1,500 -0.37% 4,800 1.18%
Information 27,200 26,900 26,900 300 1.10% 300 1.12%
Finance Activities 104,000 103,900 104,300 100 0.10% -300 -0.29%
Professional and Business Services 306,000 303,700 296,500 2,300 0.75% 9,500 3.20%
Education and Health Services 259,800 259,300 256,600 500 0.19% 3,200 1.25%
Leisure and Hospitality 281,700 280,400 268,100 1,300 0.46% 13,600 5.07%
Other Services 79,500 80,600 78,600 -1,100 -1.38% 900 1.15%
Government 376,600 376,300 369,600 300 0.08% 7,000 1.89%

 

Nonfarm Employment by Industry, Not Seasonally Adjusted

Statewide

February 2020
        Jan. to Feb. 2020 Jan. to Feb. 2020 Feb. 2019 to Feb. 2020 Feb. 2019 to Feb. 2020  
Area February 2020 January 2020 February 2019 # Change % Change # Change % Change
Total Nonfarm Employment 2,195,500 2,182,200 2,155,100 13,300 0.61% 40,400 1.87%
Mining and Logging 4,400 4,400 4,400 0 0.00% 0 0.00%
Construction 109,000 107,500 105,200 1,500 1.40% 3,800 3.61%
Manufacturing 258,500 257,900 256,500 600 0.23% 2,000 0.78%
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities 404,900 408,500 401,400 -3,600 -0.88% 3,500 0.87%
Information 26,900 26,800 26,900 100 0.37% 0 0.00%
Financial Activities 103,200 103,200 103,200 0 0.00% 0 0.00%
Professional and Business Services 303,000 299,300 294,600 3,700 1.24% 8,400 2.85%
Education and Health Services 259,400 257,500 256,900 1,900 0.74% 2,500 0.97%
Leisure and Hospitality 269,200 262,800 255,500 6,400 2.44% 13,700 5.36%
Other Services 78,700 79,300 78,100 -600 -0.76% 600 0.77%
Government 378,300 375,000 78,100 3,300 0.88% 5,900 1.58%

 

Nonfarm Employment by Area, Seasonally Adjusted

South Carolina & Metropolitan Seasonally Adjusted

February 2020
        Jan. to Feb. 2020 Jan. to Feb. 2020  Feb. 2019 to Feb. 2020 Feb. 2019 to Feb. 2020 
Area February 2020 January 2020 February 2019 # Change % Change # Change % Change
Statewide 2,218,300 2,215,200 2,173,200 3,100 0.14% 45,100 2.08%
Charleston/North Charleston MSA 379,800 380,900 372,700 -1,100 -0.29% 7,100 1.91%
Columbia MSA 407,200 406,800 400,800 400 0.10% 6,400 1.60%
Florence MSA 91,700 92,000 92,200 -300 -0.33% -500 -0.54%
Greenville/Anderson/Mauldin MSA 435,000 433,600 431,700 1,400 0.32% 3,300 0.76%
Hilton Head-Bluffton-Beaufort MSA 86,700 86,500 83,500 200 0.23% 3,200 3.83%
Myrtle Beach MSA 179,000 178,900 173,700 100 0.06% 5,300 3.05%
Spartanburg MSA 163,900 164,200 162,300 -300 -0.18% 1,600 0.99%
Sumter MSA 40,000 40,000 39,700 0 0.00% 300 0.76%

Note: Employment estimates have been rounded to the nearest hundred. Sum of detail may not equal totals due to rounding or the exclusion of certain industries from publication. All data are subject to revision.

Nonfarm Employment by Area, Not Seasonally Adjusted

South Carolina & Metropolitan Not Seasonally Adjusted

February 2020
        Jan. to Feb. 2020 Feb. to Feb. 2020    Feb. 2019 to Feb. 2020 Feb. 2019 to Feb. 2020 
Area February 2020 January 2020 February 2019 # Change % Change # Change % Change
Statewide 2,195,500 2,182,200 2,155,100 13,300 0.61% 40,400 1.87%
Charleston/North Charleston MSA 375,200 375,300 370,100 -100 -0.03% 5,100 1.38%
Columbia MSA 405,000 403,200 399,000 1,800 0.45% 6,000 1.50%
Florence MSA 91,300 91,000 91,700 300 0.33% (400) -0.44%
Greenville MSA 432,800 429,000 429,800 3,800 0.89% 3,000 0.70%
Hilton Head-Bluffton-Beaufort MSA 84,400 83,900 81,400 500 0.60% 3,000 3.69%
Myrtle Beach MSA/Conway/N. Myrtle Beach MSA 170,600 168,300 165,600 2,300 1.37% 5,000 3.02%
Spartanburg MSA 163,400 163,200 162,100 200 0.12% 1,300 0.80%
Sumter MSA 39,900 39,900 39,700 0 0.00% 200 0.50%

Note: Employment estimates have been rounded to the nearest hundred. Sum of detail may not equal totals due to rounding or the exclusion of certain industries from publication. All data are subject to revision.

 

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

LOCAL AREA UNEMPLOYMENT ESTIMATES BY COUNTY, MSA, AND STATE

(NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED)
Area Rate Up/Rate Down/Same Labor Force Feb. 2020 Unemployment Feb. 2020 Unemployment Level Feb. 2020 Unemployment Rate Labor Force Jan. 2020 Unemployment     Jan. 2020 Unemployment Level Jan. 2020 Unemployment Rate Labor Force Feb. 2019 Unemployment     Feb. 2019 Unemployment Level     Feb. 2019 Unemployment Rate
Allendale County Rate Down 2,707 2,532 175 6.5 2,698 2,516 182 6.7 2,791 2,639 152 5.4
Bamberg County Rate Up 5,015 4,727 288 5.7 4,990 4,711 279 5.6 4,982 4,707 275 5.5
Lee County Rate Up 6,722 6,367 355 5.3 6,701 6,365 336 5.0 6,680 6,420 260 3.9
Williamsburg County Rate Down 12,134 11,538 596 4.9 12,081 11,479 602 5.0 12,489 11,875 614 4.9
Orangeburg County Rate Down 35,576 33,885 1,691 4.8 35,411 33,662 1,749 4.9 34,708 32,990 1,718 4.9
Marlboro County Rate Up 9,230 8,795 435 4.7 9,282 8,869 413 4.4 9,662 8,822 840 8.7
Barnwell County - 8,280 7,896 384 4.6 8,264 7,887 377 4.6 8,484 8,094 390 4.6
Fairfield County Rate Down 9,744 9,297 447 4.6 9,710 9,257 453 4.7 9,776 9,278 498 5.1
Marion County Rate Up 12,953 12,366 587 4.5 12,890 12,333 557 4.3 13,098 12,403 695 5.3
Chester County Rate Up 13,629 13,035 594 4.4 13,575 12,990 585 4.3 13,416 12,824 592 4.4
Dillon County Rate Up 13,317 12,741 576 4.3 13,310 12,757 553 4.2 13,067 12,349 718 5.5
Clarendon County Rate Up 12,808 12,274 534 4.2 12,759 12,240 519 4.1 12,806 12,259 547 4.3
Georgetown County - 25,777 24,695 1,082 4.2 25,539 24,456 1,083 4.2 26,129 24,925 1,204 4.6
Horry County Rate Down 147,419 141,180 6,239 4.2 145,671 139,268 6,403 4.4 144,468 137,696 6,772 4.7
McCormick County Rate Up 3,449 3,306 143 4.1 3,422 3,287 135 3.9 3,482 3,359 123 3.5
Union County Rate Up 11,823 11,367 456 3.9 11,742 11,327 415 3.5 11,777 11,319 458 3.9
Abbeville County Rate Up 10,143 9,770 373 3.7 10,086 9,721 365 3.6 10,175 9,806 369 3.6
Sumter County Rate Up 44,385 42,756 1,629 3.7 44,265 42,694 1,571 3.5 44,793 43,174 1,619 3.6
Lancaster County Rate Up 41,995 40,478 1,517 3.6 41,771 40,323 1,448 3.5 40,074 38,541 1,533 3.8
Calhoun County - 6,684 6,451 233 3.5 6,649 6,419 230 3.5 6,721 6,462 259 3.9
Greenwood County Rate Up 31,599 30,496 1,103 3.5 31,397 30,366 1,031 3.3 31,360 30,285 1,075 3.4
Cherokee County Rate Up 25,344 24,485 859 3.4 25,115 24,275 840 3.3 25,568 24,742 826 3.2
Colleton County Rate Up 16,916 16,342 574 3.4 16,847 16,303 544 3.2 17,004 16,397 607 3.6
Darlington County - 30,396 29,356 1,040 3.4 30,322 29,287 1,035 3.4 30,582 29,387 1,195 3.9
Kershaw County Rate Up 29,755 28,753 1,002 3.4 29,582 28,625 957 3.2 29,121 28,180 941 3.2
Laurens County Rate Up 30,665 29,671 994 3.2 30,354 29,419 935 3.1 30,407 29,393 1,014 3.3
Aiken County Rate Up 75,735 73,409 2,326 3.1 75,364 73,133 2,231 3.0 75,539 73,130 2,409 3.2
Chesterfield County - 22,321 21,623 698 3.1 22,192 21,507 685 3.1 22,354 21,595 759 3.4
Florence County Rate Up 67,088 65,034 2,054 3.1 66,852 64,848 2,004 3.0 66,946 64,659 2,287 3.4
Edgefield County - 10,875 10,548 327 3.0 10,821 10,501 320 3.0 10,789 10,457 332 3.1
Anderson County Rate Up 92,454 89,784 2,670 2.9 91,579 89,048 2,531 2.8 91,104 88,353 2,751 3.0
Hampton County Rate Up 8,472 8,223 249 2.9 8,426 8,195 231 2.7 8,314 8,058 256 3.1
Oconee County Rate Up 35,434 34,391 1,043 2.9 35,186 34,203 983 2.8 35,673 34,583 1,090 3.1
Pickens County Rate Up 58,269 56,552 1,717 2.9 57,714 56,074 1,640 2.8 57,157 55,436 1,721 3.0
Richland County Rate Up 201,083 195,349 5,734 2.9 200,109 194,552 5,557 2.8 197,602 191,403 6,199 3.1
York County Rate Up 142,501 138,426 4,075 2.9 141,827 137,886 3,941 2.8 136,116 131,890 4,226 3.1
Beaufort County Rate Up 78,974 76,769 2,205 2.8 78,253 76,187 2,066 2.6 75,770 73,442 2,328 3.1
Newberry County - 19,374 18,824 550 2.8 19,187 18,654 533 2.8 18,937 18,387 550 2.9
Saluda County Rate Up 9,055 8,802 253 2.8 8,998 8,757 241 2.7 9,002 8,734 268 3.0
Spartanburg County Rate Up 154,912 150,637 4,275 2.8 154,278 150,163 4,115 2.7 150,262 146,014 4,248 2.8
Berkeley County Rate Up 105,158 102,298 2,860 2.7 105,018 102,326 2,692 2.6 101,956 98,993 2,963 2.9
Jasper County Rate Up 12,985 12,640 345 2.7 12,831 12,518 313 2.4 12,347 11,982 365 3.0
Dorchester County Rate Up 78,975 76,913 2,062 2.6 78,892 76,922 1,970 2.5 75,720 73,538 2,182 2.9
Greenville County Rate Up 258,298 251,534 6,764 2.6 255,817 249,477 6,340 2.5 253,111 246,046 7,065 2.8
Lexington County Rate Up 152,154 148,400 3,754 2.5 151,226 147,730 3,496 2.3 148,289 144,354 3,935 2.7
Charleston County Rate Up 214,408 209,190 5,218 2.4 213,947 209,054 4,893 2.3 208,460 202,925 5,535 2.7
Charleston - North Charleston MSA Rate Up 398,541 388,401 10,140 2.5 397,857 388,302 9,555 2.4 386,136 375,456 10,680 2.8
Columbia MSA Rate Up 408,475 397,052 11,423 2.8 406,274 395,340 10,934 2.7 400,511 388,411 12,100 3.0
Florence MSA Rate Up 97,484 94,390 3,094 3.2 97,174 94,135 3,039 3.1 97,528 94,046 3,482 3.6
Greenville -AndersonMauldin MSA Rate Up 439,686 427,541 12,145 2.8 435,464 424,018 11,446 2.6 431,779 419,228 12,551 2.9
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED South Carolina Rate Up 2,391,831 2,333,217 58,614 2.5 2,387,096 2,330,497 56,599 2.4 2,370,060 2,289,490 80,570 3.4

Current month's estimates are preliminary. All data are subject to revision.