South Carolina’s Employment Ticks Up Slightly as Businesses Start to Reopen
Monday, June 22nd, 2020
Employment: The seasonally adjusted monthly survey of households estimated the number of South Carolinians working increased to 2,118,575.
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That is a significant increase of 45,105 people over April 2020.
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That is also a significant decrease of 179,177 people over May 2019.
Unemployment: Unemployment estimates showed little movement, decreasing to 303,218 people.
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That is a decrease of 142 people since April 2020 and a significant increase of 229,360 over May 2019.
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The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 12.5 percent in May from April’s revised estimate of 12.8 percent.
Nationally, the unemployment rate declined from 14.7 percent in April to 13.3 percent in May, thus reflecting the continued effects of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) on the household survey data.
Labor force: The state’s estimated labor force (people working plus unemployed people looking for work) increased to 2,421,793.
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That is a significant increase of 44,963 people over April 2020.
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That is a significant increase of 50,183 individuals over May 2019.
Nonagricultural Employment by Industry (Seasonally Adjusted3)
The Current Employment Survey of businesses in South Carolina marked an increase of 67,600 nonfarm payroll jobs over the month to a level of 1,989,400.
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Industries reporting gains were Leisure and Hospitality (+36,300); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+10,600); Education and Health Services (+8,700); Professional and Business Services (+5,600); Construction (+3,900); Other Services (+3,800); Manufacturing (+2,600); and Financial Activities (+2,400).
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Decreases were noticed in the Government (-6,200) and Information (-100) industries.
From May 2019 to May 2020, South Carolina’s economy has lost 193,000 seasonally adjusted nonfarmjobs.
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Construction was the only industry to report a gain (+300) over the year.
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Decreases were reported in Leisure and Hospitality (-92,800); Professional and Business
Services (-27,300); Education and Health Services (-20,300); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-20,000); Government (-14,000); Manufacturing (-10,700); Other Services (-5,400); Financial Activities (-2,000); and Information (-600).
Nonagricultural Employment by Industry (Not Seasonally Adjusted2)
Not seasonally adjusted, nonfarm payroll employment increased by 75,500 from April 2020 to May 2020 for a total of 2,005,600.
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Industries reporting growth during this period were Leisure and Hospitality (+41,300); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+12,200); Education and Health Services (+8,100); Professional and Business Services (+6,400); Construction (+4,300); Other Services (+4,000); Manufacturing (+3,200); and Financial Activities (+3,100).
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Industries reporting declines were Government (-6,900) and Information (-200).
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Mining and Logging remained flat.
Since May 2019, not seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs were down 194,000, overall, in South Carolina.
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Construction was the only industry to show an annual gain (+300).
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Industries recording an over-the-year loss are Leisure and Hospitality (-93,800); Professional and
Business Services (-25,700); Education and Health Services (-21,100); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-19,800); Government (-14,200); Manufacturing (-10,500); Other Services (-5,400); Financial Activities (-2,400); Information (-1,200); and Mining and Logging (-200).