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South Carolina Economy

Unemployment was 4.0% in Sep 2026, the 29th lowest of 51 states. Personal income averages $60,776 per person.

Unemployment rate
4.0%
-0.7 pts in a year
Labor force
2,679,964
+2.2% in a year
Income per person
$60,776
BEA, 2024
Average annual pay
$63,728
QCEW, 2025

Unemployment rate in South Carolina

Monthly, seasonally adjusted, compared with the U.S.

South CarolinaUnited States
Show as a table
PeriodSouth Carolina
Sep 20264.0%
Dec 20254.8%
Dec 20244.2%
Dec 20233.3%
Dec 20223.1%
Dec 20213.3%
Dec 20204.9%
Dec 20192.6%
Dec 20183.2%
Dec 20174.0%
Dec 20164.4%
Dec 20155.4%
Dec 20146.5%
Dec 20136.3%
Dec 20128.4%
Beta

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics ยท Last updated 09/01/2026

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Counties in South Carolina

Unemployment (Sep 2026, not seasonally adjusted), income per person (BEA) and average pay (QCEW). Largest labor force first.

Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.

#CountyUnemployment1 yearLabor forceIncome per personAverage pay
1Greenville County3.2%-0.8 pts306,446$64,100$65,967
2Charleston County3.0%-0.7 pts245,088$90,550$72,198
3Richland County3.9%-0.6 pts219,084$60,580$65,125
4Horry County4.2%-0.9 pts185,328$53,905$50,029
5Spartanburg County3.7%-0.8 pts176,980$55,886$62,161
6Lexington County3.2%-0.7 pts163,120$64,070$58,208
7York County3.7%-0.8 pts160,966$66,502$63,002
8Berkeley County3.3%-0.8 pts138,142$58,397$70,179
9Anderson County3.7%-0.4 pts107,538$53,021$54,229
10Dorchester County3.3%-0.7 pts92,018$54,669$55,618
11Beaufort County3.5%-1.0 pts87,479$85,327$57,232
12Aiken County3.6%-0.9 pts80,978$56,728$65,945
13Pickens County3.2%-0.9 pts69,415$52,091$55,781
14Florence County4.1%-0.7 pts66,779$58,159$55,863
15Lancaster County4.0%-1.0 pts52,538$61,082$67,083
16Sumter County4.8%-0.6 pts42,867$52,221$54,501
17Oconee County3.5%-0.8 pts38,124$61,307$60,154
18Orangeburg County4.8%-1.6 pts35,532$47,455$48,883
19Kershaw County3.8%-0.7 pts34,297$60,737$50,752
20Laurens County3.6%-1.2 pts33,345$46,035$54,688
21Greenwood County4.2%-1.0 pts29,732$49,107$55,032
22Darlington County4.5%-0.7 pts29,281$52,320$60,477
23Georgetown County4.4%-1.2 pts28,071$67,003$52,879
24Cherokee County5.7%-0.1 pts23,726$43,456$50,376
25Newberry County3.7%-0.6 pts18,964$53,782$50,566
All 46 counties, A to Z

Jobs and pay by industry in South Carolina

Private employers, annual average 2025 (Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages)

Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.

IndustryJobs1-year changeAverage pay
Retail trade269,173+0.5%$39,585
Manufacturing262,216-0.6%$78,678
Health care and social assistance254,818+4.3%$62,078
Accommodation and food services246,779+0.7%$26,700
Administrative and support services156,529+1.2%$51,431
Professional and technical services138,013+3.2%$103,121
Finance and insurance85,547+3.1%$100,538
Wholesale trade84,347+0.9%$96,334
Transportation and warehousing79,439-0.8%$58,088
Other services63,010+0.5%$50,569
Arts, entertainment and recreation38,252+2.4%$28,778
Real estate and rental36,094+2.0%$69,772
Educational services33,498-0.9%$46,367
Management of companies24,313+3.0%$112,073
Utilities11,209+0.5%$117,076

Government employs 373,314 people (16.1% of all jobs): 37,681 federal, 101,518 state and 234,115 local.

Output and businesses in South Carolina

Bureau of Economic Analysis and Census Bureau

GDP
$357B
2024, current dollars
Real GDP growth
+4.5%
Adjusted for inflation
Employer businesses
122,958
2,067,143 employees
  • Retail trade18,64715.2%
  • Other services12,90810.5%
  • Health care and social assistance12,69410.3%
  • Professional and technical services12,61110.3%
  • Accommodation and food services12,2289.9%
  • Construction11,9819.7%
  • Real estate and rental7,7536.3%
  • Finance and insurance7,6456.2%
  • Administrative and support services6,8975.6%
  • Wholesale trade4,8103.9%

Source: BEA Regional Economic Accounts; Census County Business Patterns 2023

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Frequently asked questions

What is the unemployment rate in South Carolina?
South Carolina's unemployment rate was 4.0% in Sep 2026, seasonally adjusted, compared with 4.2% for the U.S.
Which county in South Carolina has the highest unemployment?
Williamsburg County has the highest rate at 6.4%, and Charleston County has the lowest at 3.0% (not seasonally adjusted).
What is the largest industry in South Carolina?
Retail trade is the largest private employer with 269,173 jobs, followed by manufacturing (262,216) and health care and social assistance (254,818).
What is the average salary in South Carolina?
The average annual pay for jobs covered by unemployment insurance in South Carolina was $63,728 in 2025, or $1,226 a week.
How big is South Carolina's economy?
South Carolina's GDP was $357B in 2024, about $65,173 per resident.