Overall unemployment rate moved up to 2.9% with the biggest shift in Business Services, which lost 1,000 roles, based on the most recently available information published in February 2022.
Total employment in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC market declined by 771 jobs in December and the unemployment rate increased compared to the prior month by 20 bps to 2.9%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 20 bps over the same time to 3.7%.
- Charleston-North Charleston, SC unemployment rate is 79 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
- Unemployment in the market is 260 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
- Average wages (per hour) grew in December versus prior month by 9% and are up compared to last year at this time in the market.
For key employment segments of the market, total jobs grew by 0.1% . Key sectors include:
- Transportation & Utilities: 74,300; +700
- Government: 68,600; -100
- Business Services: 52,700; -1,000
- Restaurants & Hotels: 46,100; +800
- Education & Healthcare: 45,200; +100
- Manufacturing: 28,400; +200
- Construction, Mining: 21,100; -400
- Financial Services: 16,500; no change
- Other Jobs: 14,800; no change
- IT & Development: 5,700; +100
Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through December 2021 (Data published February 2022 and reports created on February 4, 2022). Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.
Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.