April 2026 | Released May 22, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In April, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 15, rose in 9, and remained unchanged in 27.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6.2 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in April.

• In April, payroll jobs rose in 42 states and fell in 9. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in New Mexico. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.4 percent in North Dakota.

South Carolina

Employment snapshot

• In April, South Carolina added 5,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.8 percent. In the prior month, South Carolina added 2,500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, South Carolina added 21,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.6 percentage points from 4.2 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. South Carolina is tied for 2nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In April, South Carolina’s private sector added 5,500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 16,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, South Carolina added 2,800 net private payroll jobs.

• In April, employment in South Carolina rose by 7,449, and over the past 12 months it rose by 56,209.

• South Carolina’s labor force participation rate rose to 59 percent in April from 58.9 percent and ranks 42nd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.8 percentage points.

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South Carolina

Payroll employment

• South Carolina added 5,000 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, South Carolina added 2,500 jobs. South Carolina nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. South Carolina is tied for 2nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• South Carolina added 5,500 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, South Carolina added 2,800 jobs. South Carolina private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 123,000 jobs in April, or 0.1 percent. South Carolina is tied for 5th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From March 2026 to April 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+3,600) and Private Education and Health Services (+1,300).
• The worst performing sectors were Other Services (-700) and State and Local Government (-400).

From April 2025 to April 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+9,100) and State and Local Government (+7,500).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-3,700) and Federal Government (-2,600).

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 59 percent in April from 58.9 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 occurring in April 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 61.8 percent in April.