Overall unemployment rate moved up to 3.2% with the biggest shift in Transportation & Utilities, which lost 1,500 roles, based on the most recently available information published in March 2022.
Total employment in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC market rose by 255 jobs in January and the unemployment rate increased compared to the prior month by 30 bps to 3.2%. The national unemployment rate increased by 74 bps over the same time to 4.4%.
- Charleston-North Charleston, SC unemployment rate is 123 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
- Unemployment in the market is 180 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
- Average wages (per hour) grew in January versus prior month by 5.9% and are up compared to last year at this time in the market.
For key employment segments of the market, total jobs declined by -1.3%. Key sectors include:
- Government: 69,600; -500
- Transportation & Utilities: 68,500; -1,500
- Business Services: 57,100; -1,100
- Restaurants & Hotels: 48,100; -1,000
- Education & Healthcare: 42,800; -1,100
- Manufacturing: 28,300; +200
- Construction, Mining: 21,100; -400
- Financial Services: 16,700; +200
- Other Jobs: 15,100; no change
- IT & Development: 7,400; +100
Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through January 2022 (Data published March 2022 and reports created on March 18, 2022). Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.
Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.