MyBenefits
Apply for and certify your claim here.
Fri, 05/22/2020
South Carolina’s Employment Situation
April 2020
Employment Falls Severely in Effort to Contain Pandemic
Unemployment Rate Rises Sharply
I. Household Survey (1)
Employment: The seasonally adjusted monthly survey of households estimated the number of South Carolinians working fell to 2,089,889.
- That is a significant decrease of 238,913 people over March 2020.
- That is also a significant decrease of 203,982 people over April 2019.
Unemployment: Unemployment estimates increased to 288,022 people.
- That is a significant increase of 211,653 people since March 2020 and a significant increase of 210,351 over April 2019. This is the largest over-the-month increase as well as the highest level on record for the state.
- The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to a record 12.1 percent in April from March’s revised rate of 3.2 percent. This is the highest rate and the largest over-the-month increase in the history of the data series going back to 1976.
Nationally, the unemployment rate soared higher from 4.4 percent in March to 14.7 percent in April, thus reflecting the continued effects of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) on the household survey data. This is the highest rate and the largest over-the-month increase in the history of the series dating back to January 1948.
Labor force: The state’s estimated labor force (people working plus unemployed people looking for work) decreased to 2,377,911.
- That is a decrease of 27,260 people since March 2020.
- That is an increase of 6,369 individuals over April 2019.
II. Current Employment Survey (2)
Nonagricultural Employment by Industry (Seasonally Adjusted (3))
The Current Employment Survey of businesses in South Carolina marked a decrease of 272,700 nonfarm payroll jobs over the month to a level of 1,925,000.
- No industries reported gains.
- Decreases were noticed in the Leisure and Hospitality (-125,300); Professional and Business Services (-40,700); Education and Health Services (-28,900); Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-27,900); Government (-16,300); Manufacturing (-12,900); Other Services (-9,200); Construction (-6,100); Financial Activities (-4,900); and Information (-400) industry.
From April 2019 to April 2020, South Carolina’s economy has lost 254,600 seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs.
- No industries reported gains over the year
- Decreases were reported in Leisure and Hospitality (-126,500); Professional and Business Services (-34,000); Education and Health Services (-27,700); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-25,600); Manufacturing (-12,600); Other Services (-9,200); Government (-9,100); Financial Activities (-5,700); Construction (-3,600); and Information (-500).
Nonagricultural Employment by Industry (Not Seasonally Adjusted (2))
Not seasonally adjusted, nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 256,600 from March 2020 to April 2020 for a total of 1,933,400.
- No industries showed growth during this period.
- Industries reporting declines were Leisure and Hospitality (-116,900); Professional and Business Services (-36,100); Education and Health Services (-29,900); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-26,200); Government (-15,400); Manufacturing (-13,200); Other Services (-8,700); Construction (-4,900); Financial Activities (-4,500); Information (-700); and Mining and Logging (-100).
Since April 2019, not seasonally adjusted non-farm jobs were down 253,700 overall in South Carolina.
- No industries has shown annual gains.
- Industries recording an over the year loss are Leisure and Hospitality (-127,200); Professional and Business Services (-32,100); Education and Health Services (-27,800); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-24,900); Manufacturing (-13,000); Other Services (-9,200); Government (-9,000); Financial Activities (-6,300); Construction (-3,300); Information (-800); and Mining and Logging (-100).
| 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 |
| Mar. to April 2020 | Mar. to April 2020 | April 2019 to April 2020 | April 2019 to April 2020 | ||||
| Area | April 2020 | March 2020 | April 2019 | # Change | % Change | # Change | % Change |
| Total Nonfarm Employment | 1,925,000 | 2,197,700 | 2,179,600 | -272,700 | -14.17% | -254,600 | -11.68% |
| Construction | 102,900 | 109,000 | 106,500 | -6,100 | -5.93% | -3,600 | -3.38% |
| Manufacturing | 245,500 | 258,400 | 258,100 | -12,900 | -5.25% | -12,600 | -4.88% |
| Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 380,800 | 408,700 | 406,400 | -27,900 | -7.33% | -25,600 | -6.30% |
| Information | 27,100 | 27,500 | 27,600 | -400 | -1.48% | -500 | -1.81% |
| Finance Activities | 98,500 | 103,400 | 104,200 | -4,900 | -4.97% | -5,700 | -5.47% |
| Professional and Business Services | 263,100 | 303,800 | 297,100 | -40,700 | -15.47% | -34,000 | -11.44% |
| Education and Health Services | 229,400 | 258,300 | 257,100 | -28,900 | -12.60% | -27,700 | -10.77% |
| Leisure and Hospitality | 142,400 | 267,700 | 268,900 | -125,300 | -87.99% | -126,500 | -47.04% |
| Other Services | 69,700 | 78,900 | 78,900 | -9,200 | -13.20% | -9,200 | -11.66% |
| Government | 361,300 | 377,600 | 370,400 | -16,300 | -4.51% | -9,100 | -2.46% |
| Mar. to April 2020 | Mar. to April 2020 | April 2019 to April 2020 | April 2019 to April 2020 | ||||
| Area | April 2020 | March 2020 | April 2019 | # Change | % Change | # Change | % Change |
| Total Nonfarm Employment | 1,933,400 | 2,190,000 | 0 2,187,100 | -256,600 | -11.72% | -253,700 | -11.60% |
| Mining and Logging | 4,300 | 4,400 | 4,400 | -100 | -2.27% | -100 | -2.27% |
| Construction | 103,100 | 108,000 | 106,400 | -4,900 | -4.54% | -3,300 | -3.10% |
| Manufacturing | 245,200 | 258,400 | 258,200 | -13,200 | -5.11% | -13,000 | -5.03% |
| Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 379,100 | 405,300 | 404,000 | -26,200 | -6.46% | -24,900 | -6.16% |
| Information | 26,900 | 27,600 | 27,700 | -700 | -2.54% | -800 | -2.89% |
| Financial Activities | 97,700 | 102,200 | 104,000 | -4,500 | -4.40% | -6,300 | -6.06% |
| Professional and Business Services | 265,300 | 301,400 | 297,400 | -36,100 | -11.98% | -32,100 | -10.79% |
| Education and Health Services | 229,900 | 259,800 | 257,700 | -29,900 | -11.51% | -27,800 | -10.79% |
| Leisure and Hospitality | 146,400 | 263,300 | 273,600 | -116,900 | -44.40% | -127,200 | -46.49% |
| Other Services | 70,100 | 78,800 | 79,300 | -8,700 | -11.04% | -9,200 | -11.60% |
| Government | 365,400 | 380,800 | 374,400 | -15,400 | -4.04% | -9,000 | -2.40% |
| March to April 2020 | March to April 2020 | April 2019 to April 2020 | April 2019 to April 2020 | ||||
| Area | April 2020 | March 2020 | April 2019 | # Change | % Change | # Change | % Change |
| Statewide | 1,925,000 | 2,197,700 | 2,179,600 | -272,700 | -14.17% | -254,600 | -11.68% |
| Charleston/North Charleston MSA | 328,800 | 372,600 | 373,500 | -43,800 | -13.32% | -44,700 | -11.97% |
| Columbia MSA | 364,000 | 406,500 | 402,600 | -42,500 | -11.68% | -38,600 | -9.59% |
| Florence MSA | 82,500 | 91,800 | 92,300 | -9,300 | -11.27% | -9,800 | -10.62% |
| Greenville/Anderson/Mauldin MSA | 388,000 | 431,700 | 431,900 | -43,700 | -11.26% | -43,900 | -10.16% |
| Hilton Head-Bluffton-Beaufort MSA | 73,300 | 86,100 | 83,600 | -12,800 | -17.46% | -10,300 | -12.32% |
| Myrtle Beach MSA | 132,300 | 176,300 | 173,500 | -44,000 | -33.26% | -41,200 | -23.75% |
| Spartanburg MSA | 146,400 | 164,000 | 163,100 | -17,600 | -12.02% | -16,700 | -10.24% |
| Sumter MSA | 36,900 | 40,000 | 39,800 | -3,100 | -8.40% | -2,900 | -7.29% |
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.
| Mar. to April 2020 | Mar. to April. 2020 | April 2019 to April 2020 | April 2019 to April 2020 | ||||
| Area | April 2020 | March 2020 | April 2019 | # Change | % Change | # Change | % Change |
| Statewide | 1,933,400 | 2,190,000 | 2,187,100 | -256,600 | -11.72% | -253,700 | -11.60% |
| Charleston/North Charleston MSA | 328,700 | 370,800 | 375,200 | -42,100 | -11.35% | -46,500 | -12.39% |
| Columbia MSA | 363,500 | 406,100 | 403,000 | -42,600 | -10.49% | -39,500 | -9.80% |
| Florence MSA | 82,900 | 92,100 | 92,300 | -9,200 | -9.99% | -9,400 | -10.18% |
| Greenville MSA | 389,000 | 431,500 | 432,500 | -42,500 | -9.85% | -43,500 | -10.06% |
| Hilton Head-Bluffton-Beaufort MSA | 73,400 | 85,200 | 84,100 | -11,800 | -13.85% | -10,700 | -12.72% |
| Myrtle Beach MSA/Conway/N. Myrtle Beach MSA | 135,300 | 173,100 | 176,300 | -37,800 | -21.84% | -41,000 | -23.26% |
| Spartanburg MSA | 146,800 | 164,200 | 163,400 | -17,400 | -10.60% | -16,600 | -10.16% |
| Sumter MSA | 37,200 | 40,000 | 40,100 | -2,800 | -7.00% | -2,900 | -7.23% |
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.
| Area | Rate Up/Rate Down/Same | Labor Force | April 2020 Unemployment | April 2020 Unemployment Level | April 2020 Unemployment Rate | Labor Force | Mar. 2020 Unemployment | Mar. 2020 Unemployment Level | Mar. 2020 Unemployment Rate | Labor Force | April 2019 Unemployment | April 2019 Unemployment Level | April 2019 Unemployment Rate |
| Horry County | Rate Up | 147,357 | 113,966 | 33,391 | 22.7 | 149,105 | 143,233 | 5,872 | 3.9 | 148,542 | 143,713 | 4,829 | 3.3 |
| Union County | Rate Up | 12,667 | 10,323 | 2,344 | 18.5 | 11,921 | 11,447 | 474 | 4.0 | 11,612 | 11,245 | 367 | 3.2 |
| Marlboro County | Rate Up | 9,560 | 7,887 | 1,673 | 17.5 | 9,246 | 8,798 | 448 | 4.8 | 9,142 | 8,787 | 355 | 3.9 |
| Cherokee County | Rate Up | 26,704 | 22,318 | 4,386 | 16.4 | 25,818 | 24,931 | 887 | 3.4 | 25,153 | 24,487 | 666 | 2.6 |
| Georgetown County | Rate Up | 26,182 | 22,187 | 3,995 | 15.3 | 25,996 | 24,919 | 1,077 | 4.1 | 25,711 | 24,808 | 903 | 3.5 |
| Spartanburg County | Rate Up | 161,055 | 137,034 | 24,021 | 14.9 | 156,207 | 151,913 | 4,294 | 2.7 | 152,648 | 149,195 | 3,453 | 2.3 |
| Chester County | Rate Up | 13,347 | 11,403 | 1,944 | 14.6 | 13,691 | 13,055 | 636 | 4.6 | 13,307 | 12,801 | 506 | 3.8 |
| Laurens County | Rate Up | 31,363 | 26,896 | 4,467 | 14.2 | 30,624 | 29,624 | 1,000 | 3.3 | 30,087 | 29,286 | 801 | 2.7 |
| Abbeville County | Rate Up | 10,107 | 8,709 | 1,398 | 13.8 | 10,150 | 9,763 | 387 | 3.8 | 10,013 | 9,733 | 280 | 2.8 |
| Orangeburg County | Rate Up | 35,089 | 30,429 | 4,660 | 13.3 | 35,459 | 33,742 | 1,717 | 4.8 | 34,910 | 33,554 | 1,356 | 3.9 |
| Charleston County | Rate Up | 212,814 | 185,087 | 27,727 | 13.0 | 212,870 | 207,646 | 5,224 | 2.5 | 211,127 | 206,705 | 4,422 | 2.1 |
| Lancaster County | Rate Up | 40,538 | 35,311 | 5,227 | 12.9 | 42,034 | 40,501 | 1,533 | 3.6 | 40,945 | 39,684 | 1,261 | 3.1 |
| Allendale County | Rate Up | 2,575 | 2,246 | 329 | 12.8 | 2,639 | 2,464 | 175 | 6.6 | 2,677 | 2,546 | 131 | 4.9 |
| Anderson County | Rate Up | 93,272 | 81,525 | 11,747 | 12.6 | 92,571 | 89,906 | 2,665 | 2.9 | 90,929 | 88,764 | 2,165 | 2.4 |
| Greenville County | Rate Up | 260,275 | 228,430 | 31,845 | 12.2 | 258,732 | 252,042 | 6,690 | 2.6 | 254,309 | 248,739 | 5,570 | 2.2 |
| Oconee County | Rate Up | 35,393 | 31,109 | 4,284 | 12.1 | 35,468 | 34,454 | 1,014 | 2.9 | 34,785 | 33,915 | 870 | 2.5 |
| Williamsburg County | Rate Up | 11,886 | 10,446 | 1,440 | 12.1 | 12,115 | 11,515 | 600 | 5.0 | 12,102 | 11,631 | 471 | 3.9 |
| Lee County | Rate Up | 6,631 | 5,835 | 796 | 12.0 | 6,722 | 6,377 | 345 | 5.1 | 6,519 | 6,303 | 216 | 3.3 |
| York County | Rate Up | 136,997 | 120,623 | 16,374 | 12.0 | 142,802 | 138,675 | 4,127 | 2.9 | 139,190 | 135,694 | 3,496 | 2.5 |
| Beaufort County | Rate Up | 76,501 | 67,424 | 9,077 | 11.9 | 79,536 | 77,362 | 2,174 | 2.7 | 77,218 | 75,365 | 1,853 | 2.4 |
| Marion County | Rate Up | 12,512 | 11,020 | 1,492 | 11.9 | 13,012 | 12,425 | 587 | 4.5 | 13,085 | 12,562 | 523 | 4.0 |
| Bamberg County | Rate Up | 4,813 | 4,248 | 4,248 | 11.7 | 4,986 | 4,665 | 321 | 6.4 | 4,990 | 4,770 | 220 | 4.4 |
| McCormick County | Rate Up | 3,316 | 2,929 | 387 | 11.7 | 3,393 | 3,256 | 137 | 4.0 | 3,411 | 3,319 | 92 | 2.7 |
| Fairfield County | Rate Up | 9,558 | 8,452 | 1,106 | 11.6 | 9,757 | 9,319 | 438 | 4.5 | 9,525 | 9,150 | 375 | 3.9 |
| Clarendon County | Rate Up | 12,687 | 11,240 | 1,447 | 11.4 | 12,729 | 12,202 | 527 | 4.1 | 12,723 | 12,296 | 427 | 3.4 |
| Greenwood County | Rate Up | 30,780 | 27,309 | 3,471 | 11.3 | 31,597 | 30,499 | 1,098 | 3.5 | 31,338 | 30,458 | 880 | 2.8 |
| Dorchester County | Rate Up | 76,958 | 68,330 | 8,628 | 11.2 | 78,655 | 76,584 | 2,071 | 2.6 | 77,988 | 76,236 | 1,752 | 2.2 |
| Sumter County | Rate Up | 45,226 | 40,225 | 5,001 | 11.1 | 44,621 | 42,953 | 1,668 | 3.7 | 43,664 | 42,352 | 1,312 | 3.0 |
| Chesterfield County | Rate Up | 21,705 | 19,316 | 2,389 | 11.0 | 22,238 | 21,549 | 689 | 3.1 | 22,046 | 21,480 | 566 | 2.6 |
| Pickens County | Rate Up | 57,613 | 51,254 | 6,359 | 11.0 | 58,314 | 56,594 | 1,720 | 2.9 | 57,225 | 55,849 | 1,376 | 2.4 |
| Berkeley County | Rate Up | 101,834 | 90,936 | 10,898 | 10.7 | 104,833 | 101,948 | 2,885 | 2.8 | 103,849 | 101,456 | 2,393 | 2.3 |
| Barnwell County | Rate Up | 7,822 | 7,007 | 815 | 10.4 | 8,160 | 7,761 | 399 | 4.9 | 8,322 | 7,998 | 324 | 3.9 |
| Darlington County | Rate Up | 30,131 | 27,028 | 3,103 | 10.3 | 30,646 | 29,617 | 1,029 | 3.4 | 30,296 | 29,372 | 924 | 3.0 |
| Edgefield County | Rate Up | 10,846 | 9,729 | 1,117 | 10.3 | 10,848 | 10,520 | 328 | 3.0 | 10,806 | 10,532 | 274 | 2.5 |
| Aiken County | Rate Up | 75,469 | 67,974 | 7,495 | 9.9 | 76,160 | 73,880 | 2,280 | 3.0 | 75,655 | 73,627 | 2,028 | 2.7 |
| Jasper County | Rate Up | 12,091 | 10,961 | 1,130 | 9.3 | 12,911 | 12,576 | 335 | 2.6 | 12,577 | 12,283 | 294 | 2.3 |
| Kershaw County | Rate Up | 28,827 | 26,133 | 2,694 | 9.3 | 29,817 | 28,830 | 987 | 3.3 | 29,034 | 28,294 | 740 | 2.5 |
| Dillon County | Rate Up | 12,782 | 11,612 | 1,170 | 9.2 | 13,306 | 12,755 | 551 | 4.1 | 12,925 | 12,456 | 469 | 3.6 |
| Colleton County | Rate Up | 16,225 | 14,759 | 1,466 | 9.0 | 16,934 | 16,360 | 574 | 3.4 | 16,774 | 16,291 | 483 | 2.9 |
| Richland County | Rate Up | 195,439 | 177,807 | 17,632 | 9.0 | 202,793 | 197,020 | 5,773 | 2.8 | 197,612 | 192,657 | 4,955 | 2.5 |
| Newberry County | Rate Up | 18,485 | 16,863 | 1,622 | 8.8 | 19,038 | 18,502 | 536 | 2.8 | 19,185 | 18,753 | 432 | 2.3 |
| Calhoun County | Rate Up | 6,401 | 5,850 | 551 | 8.6 | 6,679 | 6,438 | 241 | 3.6 | 6,542 | 6,335 | 207 | 3.2 |
| Florence County | Rate Up | 65,224 | 59,607 | 5,617 | 8.6 | 67,814 | 65,697 | 2,117 | 3.1 | 66,724 | 64,951 | 1,773 | 2.7 |
| Lexington County | Rate Up | 145,978 | 134,758 | 11,220 | 7.7 | 152,742 | 149,016 | 3,726 | 2.4 | 149,204 | 146,027 | 3,177 | 2.1 |
| Hampton County | Rate Up | 7,966 | 7,395 | 571 | 7.2 | 8,431 | 8,190 | 241 | 2.9 | 8,373 | 8,172 | 201 | 2.4 |
| Saluda County | Rate Up | 8,618 | 8,004 | 614 | 7.1 | 8,903 | 8,647 | 256 | 2.9 | 8,834 | 8,619 | 215 | 2.4 |
| Charleston - North Charleston MSA | Rate Up | 391,606 | 344,353 | 47,253 | 12.1 | 396,358 | 386,178 | 10,180 | 2.6 | 392,964 | 384,397 | 8,567 | 2.2 |
| Columbia MSA | Rate Up | 394,821 | 361,004 | 33,817 | 8.6 | 410,691 | 399,270 | 11,421 | 2.8 | 400,751 | 391,082 | 9,669 | 2.4 |
| Florence MSA | Rate Up | 95,355 | 86,635 | 8,720 | 9.1 | 98,460 | 95,314 | 3,146 | 3.2 | 97,020 | 94,323 | 2,697 | 2.8 |
| Greenville -Anderson- Mauldin MSA | Rate Up | 442,523 | 388,105 | 54,418 | 12.3 | 440,241 | 428,166 | 12,075 | 2.7 | 432,550 | 422,638 | 9,912 | 2.3 |
| SEASONALLY ADJUSTED South Carolina | Rate Up | 2,377,911 | 2,089,889 | 288,022 | 12.1 | 2,405,171 | 2,328,802 | 76,369 | 3.2 | 2,371,542 | 2,293,871 | 77,671 | 3.3 |
Current month's estimates are preliminary. All data are subject to revision.