September 2026

Released October 20, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In September, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 18, rose in 9, and remained unchanged in 24.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.6 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.2 percent.

• In September, payroll jobs rose in 24 states and fell in 25. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in South Carolina. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.4 percent in Missouri and Wisconsin.

South Carolina

Employment snapshot

• In September, South Carolina added 12,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4 percent. In the prior month, South Carolina added 13,300 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, South Carolina added 55,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.7 percentage points from 4.7 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. South Carolina ranks 1st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In September, South Carolina’s private sector added 14,400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 51,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, South Carolina added 11,300 net private payroll jobs.

• In September, employment in South Carolina rose by 6,493, and over the past 12 months it rose by 73,280.

• South Carolina’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 58.8 percent in September and ranks 40th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.3 percentage points.

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South Carolina

Payroll employment

• South Carolina added 12,500 net payroll jobs, or 0.5 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, South Carolina added 13,300 jobs. South Carolina nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 11 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. South Carolina ranks 1st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• South Carolina added 14,400 private sector jobs, or 0.7 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, South Carolina added 11,300 jobs. South Carolina private sector payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 46,000 jobs in September, or 0 percent. South Carolina is tied for 1st in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From August 2026 to September 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+5,700) and Private Education and Health Services (+4,300).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-1,800) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-800).

From September 2025 to September 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+17,100) and Private Education and Health Services (+11,300).
• The worst performing sectors were Information (-2,200) and Federal Government (-1,500).

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 remained unchanged at 58.8 percent in September.

• South Carolina ranks 40th 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 rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.8 percent in September.