South region · state data

South Carolina unemployment rate and jobs

South Carolina's unemployment rate was 4.0% in Sep 2026, 0.2 percentage points below the U.S. rate of 4.2%. That was down from 4.7% a year earlier.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Local Area Unemployment Statistics and Current Employment Statistics) via FRED®. Monthly data, seasonally adjusted. Latest observation Sep 2026; snapshot taken Oct 27, 2026, 2:15 AM EDT.

Unemployment rate (Sep 2026)

4.0%

U.S. rate, same month

4.2%

Difference from U.S.

-0.2 pt

A year earlier

4.7%

Rank (1 = lowest rate)

28th of 51

Nonfarm jobs (Sep 2026)

2.44 million

Job growth, 12 months

+2.3%

Record low rate

2.4% (Oct 2019)

Unemployment rate: South Carolina vs. the U.S.

4.0% Sep 2026 · Percent

2.5%3.0%3.5%4.0%4.5%5.0%20222023202420252026

South Carolina unemployment rate U.S. unemployment rate

Percent of the labor force, seasonally adjusted. South Carolina data from Jan 1976 to Sep 2026; the dashed line is the national rate (UNRATE).

How South Carolina compares

In Sep 2026, South Carolina had the 22nd highest rate of the 51 states and DC (tied with Louisiana, West Virginia). Across the 16 states and DC in the South region, the simple average was 4.0%, so South Carolina was right at the regional average.

Since the state series began in 1976, South Carolina's rate has ranged from a low of 2.4% in Oct 2019 to a high of 11.7% in Apr 2020. Just before the pandemic, in February 2020, it was 2.9%, 1.1 points lower than now. Over the last 12 months the rate averaged 4.6% and was above the national rate in 10 of them.

Jobs in South Carolina

Employers in South Carolina reported 2.44 million nonfarm payroll jobs in Sep 2026, seasonally adjusted. That is 55,200 more than a year earlier (+2.3%), compared with +0.3% for the nation as a whole. Its 12-month job growth rate ranked 1st of 51. The job count is at its highest level since the series began in 1990. Compared with February 2020, payrolls are up 11.2%.

2,441.3K Sep 2026 · Thousands of persons

2,100K2,200K2,300K2,400K20222023202420252026

Total nonfarm payroll jobs, thousands, seasonally adjusted, from the BLS survey of employers. Data from Jan 1990.

Last 12 months in South Carolina
MonthUnemployment rateU.S. rateNonfarm jobsMonthly job change
Sep 20264.0%4.2%2.44 million+12,500
Aug 20264.1%4.1%2.43 million+13,300
Jul 20264.2%4.1%2.42 million+5,700
Jun 20264.4%4.2%2.41 million+4,800
May 20264.6%4.3%2.41 million+1,500
Apr 20264.8%4.3%2.40 million+3,800
Mar 20264.9%4.3%2.40 million+2,500
Feb 20265.0%4.4%2.40 million-6,000
Jan 20264.9%4.3%2.40 million+3,100
Dec 20254.8%4.4%2.40 million+2,000
Nov 20254.8%4.5%2.40 million+12,000
Sep 20254.7%4.4%2.39 million-1,600

Record high unemployment rate: 11.7% (Apr 2020). Monthly figures are revised each year when BLS benchmarks the state data.

States with similar unemployment rates

Maryland · 3.9%Louisiana · 4.0%West Virginia · 4.0%Colorado · 4.1%

Other South states

AlabamaArkansasDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaKentuckyLouisianaMarylandMississippiNorth CarolinaOklahomaTennesseeTexasVirginiaWest Virginia All 50 states and DC U.S. unemployment rate

This page shows public labor market data for general information. It is not financial or career advice and does not predict future values.

Sources

FRED® is a registered trademark of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Neither the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis nor the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics endorses OpenEcon.