South Carolina's Employment Situation November 2019
Staff Report From South Carolina CEO
Wednesday, January 8th, 2020
mployment: The monthly survey of households across the state estimated the number of South Carolinians working moved substantially higher, establishing a new record of 2,324,510.
That is a considerable increase of 5,604 people over October 2019.
That is also a significant increase of 69,390 people over November 2018.
Unemployment: Unemployment estimates decreased to 57,891 people.
That is a decrease of 4,486 people since October 2019 and a decrease of 17,216 over November 2018.
With that decrease, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate moved lower over the month, from 2.6 percent in October to a historic low of 2.4 percent in November.
Nationally, the unemployment rate decreased from 3.6 percent in October to 3.5 percent in November.
Labor force: The state’s estimated labor force (people working plus unemployed people looking for work) increased modestly to 2,382,401.
That is an increase of 1,118 people since October 2019.
That is an increase of 52,174 individuals over November 2018.
II. Current Employment Survey2
Nonagricultural Employment by Industry (Seasonally Adjusted3)
The Current Employment Survey of businesses in South Carolina marked an increase of +3,800 nonfarm payroll jobs over the month to a record high level of 2,190,300.
Industries reporting increases in employment were Professional and Business Services (+2,000); Leisure and Hospitality (+1,700); Manufacturing (+700); Education and Health Services (+700); Other Services (+300); and Government (+100).
Decreases were noticed in the Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,700) and Financial Activities (-300) industries. The Information industry remained flat.
From November 2018 to November 2019, South Carolina’s economy has added 31,900 seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs.
Industries with strong growth were Leisure and Hospitality (+9,600); Manufacturing (+6,700); Government (+5,500); Education and Health Services (+5,100); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+4,000); Other Services (+2,700); and Construction (+1,500).
Decreases were seen in Professional and Business Services (-2,500); and Information (-900). Financial Activities remained stagnant over the year.
Nonagricultural Employment by Industry (Not Seasonally Adjusted2)
Not seasonally adjusted, nonfarm payroll employment increased by +11,700 from October 2019 to November 2019 for a total of 2,201,500. The most prominent gains were in the Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+5,500) and the Professional and Business Service (+4,600) industries.
Other industries that saw an increase were Government (+2,200); Manufacturing (+1,600); Education and Health Services (+900); Information (+200); and Construction (+100).
Industries reporting declines were Leisure and Hospitality (-2,400); Financial Activities (-800); and Other Services (-200). Mining and Logging remained flat.
Since November 2018, not seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs were up 33,500 overall in South Carolina.
Industries marking strong annual gains were Leisure and Hospitality (+9,600); Manufacturing (+6,500); Government (+5,400); Education and Health Services (+5,000); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+4,500); Other Services (+2,400); Construction (+1,800); and Mining and Logging (+200).
Industries reporting an over the year decline were Professional and Business Services (-900); Information (-900); and Financial Activities (-100).