February 2025 | Released March 28, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In February, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 8, rose in 14, and remained unchanged in 29.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.

• In February, payroll jobs rose in 27 states and fell in 23. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in Wyoming. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in Alaska.

South Carolina Employment Snapshot

• In February, South Carolina lost 500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.2 percent. In the prior month, South Carolina added 4,000 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, South Carolina added 47,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.7 percentage points from 3.5 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. South Carolina is tied for 2nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In February, South Carolina’s private sector added 2,000 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 41,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, South Carolina added 1,200 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in South Carolina rose by 3,413, and over the past 12 months it rose by 21,049.

• South Carolina’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 57.6 percent in February and ranks 49th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.2 percentage points.

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South Carolina Payroll Employment

• South Carolina lost 500 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, South Carolina added 4,000 jobs. South Carolina nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 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 2,000 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, South Carolina added 1,200 jobs. South Carolina private sector payroll employment has increased in 11 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in February, or 0.1 percent. South Carolina is tied for 2nd in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during February were Education and Health Services (1,000) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (800).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Manufacturing (-800) and Government (-2,500).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (14,400) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (6,900).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Mining and Logging (200) and Manufacturing (-1,600).

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 57.6 percent in February.

• South Carolina ranks 49th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in South Carolina was 59.5 percent occurring in March 2015, and the 10-year low was 57.3 percent occurring in October 2022.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.4 percent in February.