June 2026

Released July 21, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In June, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 30, rose in 7, and remained unchanged in 14.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.2 percent.

• In June, payroll jobs rose in 34 states and fell in 17. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in Alaska and New Hampshire. The largest payroll job percent decline was 1.2 percent in West Virginia.

South Carolina

Employment snapshot

• In June, South Carolina lost 400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage point to 4.4 percent. In the prior month, South Carolina added 1,500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, South Carolina added 18,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, or 0 percent. South Carolina is tied for 11th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In June, South Carolina’s private sector lost 3,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 14,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, South Carolina added 2,900 net private payroll jobs.

• In June, employment in South Carolina rose by 5,261, and over the past 12 months it rose by 70,538.

• South Carolina’s labor force participation rate fell to 58.9 percent in June from 59 percent and ranks 42nd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.7 percentage points.

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South Carolina

Payroll employment

• South Carolina lost 400 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, South Carolina added 1,500 jobs. South Carolina nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, or 0 percent. South Carolina is tied for 11th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• South Carolina lost 3,100 private sector jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, South Carolina added 2,900 jobs. South Carolina private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 49,000 jobs in June, or 0 percent. South Carolina is tied for 19th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From May 2026 to June 2026:

• The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+2,600) and Leisure and Hospitality (+800).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,300) and Professional and Business Services (-1,200).

From June 2025 to June 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+8,100) and State and Local Government (+6,100).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-4,400) and Information (-2,500).

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 58.9 percent in June from 59 percent in the prior month.

• South Carolina ranks 42nd in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in South Carolina was 59 percent in May 2026, and the 10-year low was 57.5 percent occurring in September 2021.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.3 percentage points to 61.5 percent in June.