January 2026 | Released April 08, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In January, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 9, rose in 22, and remained unchanged in 20.

• 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 4.3 percent.

• In January, payroll jobs rose in 45 states and fell in 6. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in California and North Dakota. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.7 percent in District of Columbia.

South Carolina

Employment snapshot

• In January, South Carolina added 5,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.9 percent. In the prior month, South Carolina added 2,000 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, South Carolina added 31,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.8 percentage points from 4.1 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 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 January, South Carolina’s private sector added 3,400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 24,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, South Carolina lost 200 net private payroll jobs.

• In January, employment in South Carolina rose by 7,402, and over the past 12 months it rose by 39,281.

• South Carolina’s labor force participation rate rose to 58.7 percent in January from 58.5 percent and ranks 44th 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 added 5,400 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, South Carolina added 2,000 jobs. South Carolina nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 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 3,400 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, South Carolina lost 200 jobs. South Carolina private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 186,000 jobs in March, or 0.1 percent. South Carolina is tied for 4th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From December 2025 to January 2026:

• The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+2,100) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+1,700).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-700) and Information (-500).

From January 2025 to January 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+11,800) and State and Local Government (+10,500).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-4,300) and Federal Government (-3,200).

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 58.7 percent in January from 58.5 percent in the prior month.

• South Carolina ranks 44th 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 57.5 percent occurring in September 2021.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.9 percent in March.