The SC job market has had a big glow up this year. Here’s how and why

South Carolina’s workforce is in no slump.

Recent data released by the SC Department of Workforce and Employment (DEW), revealed that employment and labor force numbers have increased significantly since last year, likely due to the state’s jump in population growth.

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The U.S. Census Bureau conducts a monthly Current Population Survey of about 60,000 households across the nation, which the DEW uses to estimate the number of in the Palmetto State for the month of May.

Here’s the data that shows South Carolinians’ willingness to work:

SC workforce growth

DEW estimates that the seasonally adjusted number of South Carolina workers increased to 2,549,347 in May. That is a significant increase of 65,740 people since the May 2025 estimate.

Seasonal adjustment removes the effects of events that follow a regular pattern each year (tourist-related hiring and school closings in the summer), so it’s easier to observe nonseasonal effects in data over time, according to the report.

They also estimate that an additional 9,796 people found employment in SC since the April 2026 estimate.

The state’s labor force, that is to say, people working, plus unemployed people looking for work, increased to 2,673,031 while the labor force participation rate increased to 59%. That’s an increase of 78,491 individuals since the May 2025 estimate.

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While this shows more people are joining SC’s workforce, we also have to look at the state’s unemployment rate, the percentage of the labor force that does not have a job but is actively searching for employment.

SC’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased since the April 2026 estimate, falling to 4.6%. However, this is an increase from the May 2025 unemployment rate of 4.3%. The national unemployment rate averages at 4.3%.

The unemployment rate differs in each county, with some areas seeing significantly higher unemployment rates than others. Here are the counties in SC that are seeing the highest unemployment rates:

Highest May unemployment rates by SC county

These 10 SC counties have the highest estimated unemployment rates for May, according to DEW. This was not seasonally adjusted. A reminder: the national average civilian unemployment rate is 4.3% in comparison.

1. Marlboro County: 6.8%
2. Williamsburg County: 6.4%
3. Allendale County: 5.8%
4. Marion County: 5.7%
5. Lee County: 5.6%
6. Union County: 5.5%
7. Orangeburg County 5.4%
8. Bamberg County: 5.1%
9. Cherokee County: 5.0%
10. Dillion County: 5.0%

Lowest May unemployment rates by SC county

These 10 SC counties have the lowest estimated unemployment rates for May:

1. Charleston County: 3.0%
2. Saluda County: 3.3%
3. Lexington County: 3.3%
4. Edefield County: 3.3%
5. Greenville County: 3.4%
6. Dorchester County: 3.4%
7. Berkeley County: 3.4%
8. Beaufort County: 3.4%
9. Oconee County: 3.6%
10. Anderson County: 3.6%

The Columbia Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Calhoun, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lexington, Richland and Saluda counties, didn’t see a change to its unemployment rate year-over-year, according to DEW.

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