How many jobs were added in South Carolina last month?
Refreshed monthly
South Carolina gained 10,800 jobs in August 2026, ranking it fourth among states in job growth. Those figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' state employment report, which tracks monthly job changes. Job numbers can swing month to month as local economies expand or contract, but over the past five years the state has averaged about 4,400 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
+10.8K
month to month change in number of jobs (August 2026)
4th
rank among states in monthly job growth (August 2026)
August 2026's gain of 10,800 jobs was the 6th consecutive month of positive job growth in South Carolina. Monthly job growth was up from the 5,700 new jobs in July 2026.
During the latest five year period (September 2021 to August 2026), South Carolina gained jobs in 51 out of 60 months. August 2026 had the seventh-highest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in October 2021 (+20,600) while job growth was weakest in February 2026 (-6,000).
There were 10,800 more jobs in August 2026 in South Carolina than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, September 2021–August 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which South Carolina sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in August 2026?
The three supersectors with the highest job growth in August 2026 were administrative and support and waste management and remediation services, accommodation and food services, and state government. Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services added 4,100 jobs. Accommodation and food services gained 3,100 jobs, while state government added 2,500. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.
The three lowest-performing supersectors were health care and social assistance, other services, and wholesale trade. Health care and social assistance lost 1,100 jobs in August 2026, while other services lost 400 jobs and wholesale trade lost 300 jobs.
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The retail trade sector gained 400 jobs during August 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in South Carolina (August 2026)
How has South Carolina's job growth changed over time?
In 2025, South Carolina gained an average of 2,208 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2024 average monthly increase of 2,983, and the lowest since 2020. The 2025 average ranks as 14th-highest in job growth since 2007.
When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021, job growth ranged from a loss of 7,700 on average every month in 2009 to a gain of 6,200 on average every month in 2022.
In 2025, South Carolina gained an average of 2,200 jobs every month.
Average monthly change in the number of jobs, seasonally adjusted
Job growth among eight metro areas primarily in South Carolina during August 2026 ranged from a gain of 0 jobs in the Sumter, SC area to a gain of 1,300 jobs in the Greenville, SC area.
Monthly job growth, by metro area
Metro areas where at least one of its primary counties are within South Carolina
| Metro area | Change in jobs | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | +1,300 | |
| 2. | +700 | |
| 3. | +600 | |
| 4. | +200 | |
| 5. | +100 | |
| 6. | +100 | |
| 7. | +100 | |
| 8. | +0 | |
| 9. | +0 |
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
