July 2026 | Released August 21, 2026

Download the full PDF for South Carolina

Download the summary PDF for South Carolina

United States

Employment snapshot

• In July, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 29, rose in 4, and remained unchanged in 18.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.9 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.

• In July, payroll jobs rose in 27 states and fell in 24. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Maryland. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in New Jersey.

South Carolina

Employment snapshot

• In July, South Carolina added 4,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage point to 4.2 percent. In the prior month, South Carolina added 4,800 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, South Carolina added 32,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points from 4.4 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. South Carolina is tied for 2nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In July, South Carolina’s private sector added 3,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 26,500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, South Carolina added 900 net private payroll jobs.

• In July, employment in South Carolina rose by 5,748, and over the past 12 months it rose by 73,364.

• South Carolina’s labor force participation rate fell to 58.8 percent in July from 58.9 percent and is tied for 41st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.6 percentage points.

---

South Carolina

Payroll employment

• South Carolina added 4,700 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, South Carolina added 4,800 jobs. South Carolina nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 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 3,200 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, South Carolina added 900 jobs. South Carolina private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 30,000 jobs in July, or 0 percent. South Carolina is tied for 6th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From June 2026 to July 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+1,900) and State and Local Government (+1,600).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-2,000) and Professional and Business Services (-600).

From July 2025 to July 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+10,900) and State and Local Government (+7,400).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-2,300) and Information (-2,100).

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 fell to 58.8 percent in July from 58.9 percent in the prior month.

• South Carolina is tied for 41st 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 fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.4 percent in July.