March 2025

Released April 18, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In March, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 15, rose in 17, and remained unchanged in 19.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.8 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.2 percent.

• In March, payroll jobs rose in 38 states and fell in 12. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.3 percent in Connecticut.

South Carolina Employment Snapshot

• In March, South Carolina added 10,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent. In the prior month, South Carolina added 2,100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, South Carolina added 55,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 3.7 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 228,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. South Carolina ranks 2nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In March, South Carolina’s private sector added 10,400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 49,900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, South Carolina added 4,400 net private payroll jobs.

• In March, employment in South Carolina rose by 2,369, and over the past 12 months it rose by 21,332.

• South Carolina’s labor force participation rate fell to 57.5 percent in March from 57.6 percent and ranks 49th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.4 percentage points.

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South Carolina Payroll Employment

• South Carolina added 10,200 net payroll jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, South Carolina added 2,100 jobs. South Carolina nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 11 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 228,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. South Carolina ranks 2nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• South Carolina added 10,400 private sector jobs, or 0.5 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, South Carolina added 4,400 jobs. South Carolina private sector payroll employment has increased in 11 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 209,000 jobs in March, or 0.2 percent. South Carolina ranks 2nd in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during March were Professional and Business Services (4,500) and Leisure and Hospitality (2,700).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Government (-200) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-500).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (13,900) and Professional and Business Services (10,500).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Mining and Logging (200) and Manufacturing (-500).

South Carolina Labor Force

The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.

• The labor force participation rate in South Carolina fell to 57.5 percent in March from 57.6 percent in the prior month.

• South Carolina ranks 49th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in South Carolina was 59.5 percent in March 2015, and the 10-year low was 57.3 percent occurring in October 2022.

• The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.5 percent in March.