November 2025 | Released January 08, 2026
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United States
Employment snapshot
- The highest unemployment rate was 6.5 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.1 percent in South Dakota.
- In November, payroll jobs rose in 35 states and fell in 15. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.3 percent in Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, and Mississippi. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.4 percent in New Hampshire.
South Carolina
Employment snapshot
In November, South Carolina added 1,200 net payroll jobs. In the prior month, South Carolina added 2,400 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, South Carolina added 48,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 4.4 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 64,000 in November. South Carolina is tied for 1st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In November, South Carolina’s private sector added 1,900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 46,900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, South Carolina added 4,000 net private payroll jobs.
South Carolina
Payroll employment
- South Carolina added 1,200 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during November. In the prior month, South Carolina added 2,400 jobs. South Carolina nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 64,000 in November. South Carolina is tied for 1st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
South Carolina added 1,900 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during November. In the prior month, South Carolina added 4,000 jobs. South Carolina private sector payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 69,000 jobs in November, or 0.1 percent. South Carolina ranks 2nd in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
From October 2025 to November 2025:
- The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+2,000) and Private Education and Health Services (+900).
- The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-600) and Manufacturing (-500).
From November 2024 to November 2025:
- The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+15,500) and Private Education and Health Services (+9,000).
- The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-2,600) and Manufacturing (-2,500).
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.
- South Carolina ranks 46th in the nation.