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Economy & jobs
Statistics · Region
Labour force in South Carolina
1976 – 2025 · 50 data points
15 of 20 · Regions of United States
Updated Nov 12, 2026
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 1976 – 2025
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Overview
6 figures
People
18 figures
Economy
20 figures
Housing
8 figures
Education
10 figures
Tourism
3 figures
Climate
3 figures
Latest value · 2025
2,608,887
+1.8%
since 2024
Regions of United States · 2025
15 of 20
Place 1 is the highest value.
since 2015
+16%
+1.4% a year on average
Labour force, 1976 – 2025 people
+16% since 2015
0
1M
2M
3M
1976
2000
2010
2025
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 1976 – 2025
The series at a glance South Carolina · 1976 – 2025
Latest value
2,608,887 · 2025
First value
1,298,668 · 1976
Highest
2,608,887 · 2025
Lowest
1,298,668 · 1976
Average change
+1.4% a year on average
Data points
50
By year
All years · 1976 – 2025
| Year | South Carolina | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,608,887 | +1.8% |
| 2024 | 2,562,615 | +2.7% |
| 2023 | 2,495,157 | +3.0% |
| 2022 | 2,422,347 | +2.1% |
| 2021 | 2,372,318 | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 2,341,703 | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 2,328,087 | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 2,283,363 | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 2,262,949 | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 2,255,783 | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 2,241,067 | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 2,201,844 | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 2,181,555 | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 2,176,794 | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 2,173,678 | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 2,170,408 | −0.3% |
| 2009 | 2,176,789 | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 2,175,274 | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 2,167,128 | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 2,153,884 | +3.9% |
| 2005 | 2,073,749 | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 2,043,898 | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 1,996,734 | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 1,952,296 | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 1,943,755 | −1.2% |
| 2000 | 1,966,970 | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 1,957,132 | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 1,939,577 | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 1,919,215 | +1.8% |
| 1996 | 1,884,580 | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 1,864,109 | +1.3% |
| 1994 | 1,840,083 | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 1,825,100 | +1.6% |
| 1992 | 1,796,665 | +1.9% |
| 1991 | 1,762,572 | +1.7% |
| 1990 | 1,732,623 | +2.0% |
| 1989 | 1,698,019 | +2.0% |
| 1988 | 1,664,039 | +1.8% |
| 1987 | 1,633,928 | +2.6% |
| 1986 | 1,592,444 | +2.8% |
| 1985 | 1,548,432 | +3.5% |
| 1984 | 1,495,372 | +1.2% |
| 1983 | 1,478,129 | −0.2% |
| 1982 | 1,481,395 | +3.5% |
| 1981 | 1,431,228 | +2.7% |
| 1980 | 1,394,098 | +1.4% |
| 1979 | 1,374,740 | +1.3% |
| 1978 | 1,357,715 | +2.3% |
| 1977 | 1,326,585 | +2.1% |
| 1976 | 1,298,668 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 1976 – 2025
Ranking · Regions of United States
2020 · Place 1 is the highest value.
| # | Territory | Labour force | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 19M | |
| 2 | Texas | 14M | |
| 3 | Florida | 10M | |
| 4 | New York | 9.6M | |
| 5 | Illinois | 6.3M | |
| 6 | Ohio | 5.7M | |
| 7 | Michigan | 4.9M | |
| 8 | New Jersey | 4.6M | |
| 9 | Washington | 3.9M | |
| 10 | Arizona | 3.5M | |
| 11 | Indiana | 3.3M | |
| 12 | Tennessee | 3.3M | |
| 13 | Wisconsin | 3.1M | |
| 14 | Missouri | 3M | |
| 15 | South Carolina | 2.3M | |
| 16 | Kentucky | 2M | |
| 17 | Oklahoma | 1.8M | |
| 18 | Utah | 1.6M | |
| 19 | Arkansas | 1.3M | |
| 20 | Idaho | 902K |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2020
What it means
Residents who work or are looking for work.
How it is calculated
Employed plus unemployed residents, annual average.
Economy & jobs
South Carolina in numbers
GDP per person
$65,174
2024
GDP per person (PPP)
$65,174
2024
Gross domestic product
$29T
2024 · United States
Economic growth
2.8%
2024 · United States
Inflation
2.9%
2024 · United States
Unemployment rate
4.5%
2025
Unemployment rate, latest month
3.7%
Sep 2026
Youth unemployment
9.3%
2025 · United States
Employment rate
67.1%
2024
Labour force participation
63.5%
2024 · United States
Household income per person
$54,492
2024
Median household income
$80,734
2024 · United States