December 2025

Released January 27, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In December, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 8, rose in 21, and remained unchanged in 22.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6.7 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.2 percent in Hawaii and South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.4 percent.

• In December, payroll jobs rose in 23 states and fell in 27. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Delaware and Montana. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.3 percent in Kansas and Nebraska.

South Carolina

Employment snapshot

• In December, South Carolina lost 5,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage point to 4.8 percent. In the prior month, South Carolina lost 400 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, South Carolina added 33,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 4.4 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 50,000 in December, or 0 percent. South Carolina ranks 3rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In December, South Carolina’s private sector lost 6,400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 31,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, South Carolina lost 600 net private payroll jobs.

• In December, employment in South Carolina rose by 8,458, and over the past 12 months it rose by 52,391.

• South Carolina’s labor force participation rate rose to 58.1 percent in December from 58 percent and is tied for 45th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.4 percentage points.

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South Carolina

Payroll employment

• South Carolina lost 5,900 net payroll jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, South Carolina lost 400 jobs. South Carolina nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 50,000 in December, or 0 percent. South Carolina ranks 3rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• South Carolina lost 6,400 private sector jobs, or -0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, South Carolina lost 600 jobs. South Carolina private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 37,000 jobs in December, or 0 percent. South Carolina ranks 3rd in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From November 2025 to December 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+1,900) and Financial Activities (+800).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-5,400) and Professional and Business Services (-4,100).

From December 2024 to December 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+17,900) and Private Education and Health Services (+7,300).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-2,700) and Manufacturing (-2,200).

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 rose to 58.1 percent in December from 58 percent in the prior month.

• South Carolina is tied for 45th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in South Carolina was 59.2 percent occurring in January 2016, and the 10-year low was 57.3 percent occurring in August 2022.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 62.4 percent in December.