Overall unemployment rate moved down to 2.9% with the biggest shift in Restaurants & Hotels, which lost 1,700 roles, based on the most recently available information published in November 2021.
Total employment in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC market declined by 2,833 jobs in September and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 90 bps to 2.9%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 72 bps over the same time to 4.6%.
- Charleston-North Charleston, SC unemployment rate is 166 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
- Unemployment in the market is 220 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
- Average wages (per hour) grew in September versus prior month by 5.1% and are down compared to last year at this time in the market.
For key employment segments of the market, total jobs declined by -0.4%. Key sectors include:
- Transportation & Utilities: 71,700; +300
- Government: 68,700; +600
- Business Services: 51,800; -1,200
- Education & Healthcare: 44,300; -200
- Restaurants & Hotels: 43,700; -1,700
- Manufacturing: 28,000; no change
- Construction, Mining: 20,900; +600
- Financial Services: 15,700; +100
- Other Jobs: 14,600; +200
- IT & Development: 5,500; -100
Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through September 2021 (Data published November 2021 and reports created on November 3, 2021). Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.
Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.