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South Carolina’s Employment Situation (February 2022) Household Survey1 (Local Area Unemployment Statistics) EMPLOYMENT: The seasonally adjusted, monthly survey of households estimated the number of South Carolinians working increased to 2,295,706. • •
That is an increase of 3,406 people over the January estimate. That is a significant increase of 49,175 people over the February 2021 estimate.
UNEMPLOYMENT: The estimate of unemployed people showed little change at 82,658. •
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That is an increase of 416 people from January’s estimate and a significant decrease of 21,756 over the February 2021 estimate. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate showed no change over the month, remaining at 3.5 percent. Nationally, the unemployment rate decreased to 3.8 percent in February from 4.0 percent in January, according to the Current Population Survey.
Employer Survey2 (Current Employment Statistics) NONAGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY (SEASONALLY ADJUSTED 3) The monthly survey of businesses in South Carolina marked an estimated increase of 17,500 nonfarm payroll jobs over the month to a level of 2,195,900. •
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From February 2021 to February 2022, South Carolina’s economy has picked up 64,700 seasonally adjusted, nonfarm jobs. •
LABOR FORCE: The state’s estimated labor force (people working plus unemployed people looking for work) increased to 2,378,364 from January’s level of 2,374,542. • •
That is an increase of 3,822 people over the January estimate. That is an increase of 27,419 individuals over the February 2021 estimate.
Industries that reported gains were Professional and Business Services (+7,100); Government (+2,700); Leisure and Hospitality (+2,200); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+2,000); Education and Health Services (+1,600); Manufacturing (+1,000); Financial Activities (+800); Other Services (+500); and Construction (+200). Decreases were observed in the Information (-700) industry.
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Industries with strong growth were reported in Leisure and Hospitality (+18,800); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+16,100); Professional and Business Services (+8,300); Manufacturing (+7,100); Financial Activities (+5,500); Other Services (+4,600); Education and Health Services (+2,600); Information (+1,100); and Construction (+900). There was a decline noticed in the Government (-500) industry over the year.
SC Department of Employment and Workforce Labor Market Information Division Columbia, South Carolina 29202
