South Carolina Unemployment

According to the BLS current population survey (CPS), the unemployment rate for South Carolina fell 0.4 percentage points in December 2011 to 9.5%. The state unemployment rate was 1.0 percentage points higher than the national rate for the month. The unemployment rate in South Carolina peaked in November 2009 at 11.8% and is now 2.3 percentage points lower. You can also see South Carolina unemployment compared to other states.

Unemployment Rate	December 2011	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	8.5%	-0.2	-0.9
South Carolina	9.5%	-0.4	-1.4

Note: All comparisons are made with December data as January state level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: South Carolina, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray

South Carolina Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in South Carolina peaked in December 2009 at 255,135. There are now 48,667 fewer people unemployed in the state. South Carolina job growth data is also available.

Unemployed Persons	December 2011	Month/Month	Year/Year
South Carolina	206,468	-7,534	-29,514

Number of Unemployed Persons

South Carolina Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	South Carolina Unemployment Rate	South Carolina Unemployed
January 2012	8.3%	—	—
December 2011	8.5%	9.5%	206,468
November 2011	8.7%	9.9%	214,002
October 2011	8.9%	10.5%	227,983
September 2011	9.0%	10.9%	237,330
August 2011	9.1%	11.1%	239,356
July 2011	9.1%	10.9%	235,823
June 2011	9.1%	10.5%	226,064
May 2011	9.0%	10.0%	215,551
April 2011	9.0%	9.8%	209,983
March 2011	8.9%	9.9%	213,033
February 2011	9.0%	10.2%	219,382
January 2011	9.1%	10.5%	227,251