Department of Numbers

Columbia, South Carolina Job Growth

There were 414,900 jobs in Columbia, South Carolina in January 2023 according to the CES survey of employers. The CPS survey of households showed 383,631 employed persons for the month. Columbia added 500 jobs in January 2023 according to the CES survey while the broader CPS measure of employment rose by 693 (Comparing CES and CPS employment numbers.). You can also compare Columbia job growth to job growth in other cities.

Employment Survey January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
CES 414,900 +500 +7,700
CPS 383,631 +693 -2,232

Note: The CPS survey data is now seasonally adjusted at the metropolitan level by with the new BLS SSA series.

Columbia, South Carolina Employment Changes

The charts below show the monthly job growth for Columbia as measured by the CES and CPS surveys. To illustrate the trend, the 3 month moving average change in employment is shown in green.

CES Employment Change: 1 Month, Rolling 3 Month

CPS Employment Change: 1 Month, Rolling 3 Month

Total Employment for Columbia, South Carolina

CES employment for Columbia peaked in September 2022 at 418,900. Since then 4,000 jobs have been lost in Columbia according to the employer survey. From a trough of 414,200 in November 2022, Columbia has gained 700 jobs according to CES employment figures.

CPS employment reached a maximum of 388,289 for Columbia in June 2022. 4,658 jobs have been lost in Columbia since then according to the household survey. From a December 2022 low of 382,938, Columbia has added 693 jobs according to the CPS survey.

Employment: CES, CPS

CES and CPS employment chart through January 2023

Columbia, South Carolina Employment History

Date CES
Employment
CES
Month/Month
CPS
Employment
CPS
Month/Month
January 2023 414,900 500 383,631 693
December 2022 414,400 200 382,938 -1,047
November 2022 414,200 -700 383,985 -1,380
October 2022 414,900 -4,000 385,365 -1,357
September 2022 418,900 1,800 386,722 -391
August 2022 417,100 1,800 387,113 -310
July 2022 415,300 2,800 387,423 -866
June 2022 412,500 -600 388,289 392
May 2022 413,100 100 387,897 601
April 2022 413,000 2,300 387,296 921
March 2022 410,700 300 386,375 24
February 2022 410,400 3,200 386,351 488