Department of Numbers

Charleston-North Charleston, South Carolina Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Charleston fell 0.0 percentage points in March 2023 to 2.8%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.4 percentage points lower than the South Carolina rate. The unemployment rate in Charleston peaked in April 2020 at 11.6% and is now 8.8 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.7% in January 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.1 percentage points. You can also compare Charleston unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate March 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.5% -0.1 -0.1
South Carolina 3.2% 0.0 0.0
Charleston 2.8% 0.0 -0.2
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with March 2023 data as April metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Charleston, South Carolina, National

Charleston, South Carolina monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Charleston, South Carolina Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Charleston peaked in April 2020 at 43,814. There are now 32,098 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 11,150 in January 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 566. Charleston employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Charleston, South Carolina) is also available.

Unemployed Persons March 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Charleston 11,716 +231 -401

Number of Unemployed Persons

Charleston, South Carolina Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
South Carolina
Unemployment Rate
Charleston
Unemployment Rate
Charleston
Unemployed
April
2023
3.4%
March
2023
3.5% 3.2% 2.8% 11,716
February
2023
3.6% 3.2% 2.8% 11,485
January
2023
3.4% 3.2% 2.7% 11,150
December
2022
3.5% 3.3% 2.8% 11,197
November
2022
3.6% 3.3% 2.8% 11,211
October
2022
3.7% 3.3% 2.8% 11,242
September
2022
3.5% 3.3% 2.8% 11,255
August
2022
3.7% 3.3% 2.8% 11,231
July
2022
3.5% 3.2% 2.8% 11,222
June
2022
3.6% 3.2% 2.8% 11,321
May
2022
3.6% 3.2% 2.9% 11,542

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.