August 2025

Released September 19, 2025

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In August, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 13, rose in 12, and remained unchanged in 26.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.3 percent.

• In August, payroll jobs rose in 32 states and fell in 18. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in Utah. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.7 percent in District of Columbia.

South Carolina

Employment snapshot

• In August, South Carolina lost 300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.3 percent. In the prior month, South Carolina added 7,100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, South Carolina added 72,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage points from 4.6 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. South Carolina ranks 1st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In August, South Carolina’s private sector lost 600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 65,500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, South Carolina added 5,700 net private payroll jobs.

• In August, employment in South Carolina rose by 545, and over the past 12 months it rose by 31,045.

• South Carolina’s labor force participation rate fell to 57.6 percent in August from 57.7 percent and ranks 49th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.5 percentage points.

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South Carolina

Payroll employment

• South Carolina lost 300 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, South Carolina added 7,100 jobs. South Carolina nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 11 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. South Carolina ranks 1st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• South Carolina lost 600 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, South Carolina added 5,700 jobs. South Carolina private sector payroll employment has increased in 11 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 38,000 jobs in August, or 0 percent. South Carolina ranks 1st in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From July 2025 to August 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+2,100) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+900).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-2,500) and Private Education and Health Services (-700).

From August 2024 to August 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+16,500) and Leisure and Hospitality (+14,800).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-300) and Manufacturing (-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 57.6 percent in August from 57.7 percent in the prior month.

• South Carolina ranks 49th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in South Carolina was 59.2 percent occurring in February 2016, and the 10-year low was 57.3 percent occurring in October 2022.

• The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.3 percent in August.