May 2026 | Released June 23, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

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

• The highest unemployment rate was 6.1 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.1 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in May.

• In May, payroll jobs rose in 38 states and fell in 13. The largest payroll job percent increase was 1.4 percent in West Virginia. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.5 percent in Montana.

South Carolina

Employment snapshot

• In May, South Carolina added 2,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage point to 4.6 percent. In the prior month, South Carolina added 3,800 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, South Carolina added 20,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points from 4.3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. South Carolina is tied for 5th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, South Carolina’s private sector added 4,600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 18,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, South Carolina added 4,700 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in South Carolina rose by 9,796, and over the past 12 months it rose by 65,740.

• South Carolina’s labor force participation rate rose to 59 percent in May 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 2,600 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, South Carolina added 3,800 jobs. South Carolina nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. South Carolina is tied for 5th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• South Carolina added 4,600 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, South Carolina added 4,700 jobs. South Carolina private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 120,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. South Carolina is tied for 7th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From April 2026 to May 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+1,800) and Private Education and Health Services (+900).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-2,200) and Manufacturing (-600).

From May 2025 to May 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+8,600) and Leisure and Hospitality (+4,700).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-3,000) and Federal Government (-2,000).

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 May 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 in May 2026, and the 10-year low was 57.5 percent occurring in September 2021.

• The national labor force participation rate remained steady at 61.8 percent in May.