August 2026 | Released September 18, 2026
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United States
Employment snapshot
In August, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 28, rose in 4, and remained unchanged in 19.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in August.
In August, payroll jobs rose in 35 states and fell in 16. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in New Mexico. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.3 percent in Maryland.
South Carolina
Employment snapshot
In August, South Carolina added 10,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent. In the prior month, South Carolina added 5,700 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, South Carolina added 38,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.5 percentage points from 4.6 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. South Carolina is tied for 1st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In August, South Carolina’s private sector added 8,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 32,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, South Carolina added 4,800 net private payroll jobs.
In August, employment in South Carolina rose by 6,208, and over the past 12 months it rose by 73,996.
South Carolina’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 58.8 percent in August and is tied for 40th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.5 percentage points.
South Carolina
Payroll employment
South Carolina added 10,800 net payroll jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, South Carolina added 5,700 jobs. South Carolina nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. South Carolina is tied for 1st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
South Carolina added 8,100 private sector jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, South Carolina added 4,800 jobs. South Carolina private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 127,000 jobs in August, or 0.1 percent. South Carolina is tied for 3rd in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
From July 2026 to August 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+4,000) and Professional and Business Services (+3,900).
- The worst performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (-700) and Other Services (-400).
From August 2025 to August 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+10,300) and Private Education and Health Services (+7,900).
- The worst performing sectors were Information (-2,300) and Federal Government (-1,700).
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 August.
South Carolina is tied for 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 61.6 percent in August.