Charleston-North Charleston, South Carolina Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Charleston fell 0.2 percentage points in February 2018 to 3.8%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.6 percentage points lower than the South Carolina rate. The unemployment rate in Charleston peaked in December 2009 at 9.8% and is now 6.0 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.2% in June 2017, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.6 percentage points. You can also compare Charleston unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	February 2018	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	4.1%	0.0	-0.6
South Carolina	4.4%	+0.1	0.0
Charleston	3.8%	-0.2	-0.1

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with February 2018 data as March metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Charleston, South Carolina, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Charleston, South Carolina Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Charleston peaked in February 2010 at 31,738. There are now 17,216 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 12,067 in June 2017, the number of unemployed has now grown by 2,455. Charleston employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Charleston, South Carolina) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	February 2018	Month/Month	Year/Year
Charleston	14,522	-522	-208

Number of Unemployed Persons

Charleston, South Carolina Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	South Carolina Unemployment Rate	Charleston Unemployment Rate	Charleston Unemployed
March 2018	4.1%	—	—	—
February 2018	4.1%	4.4%	3.8%	14,522
January 2018	4.1%	4.3%	4.0%	15,044
December 2017	4.1%	4.2%	3.7%	13,914
November 2017	4.1%	4.2%	3.5%	13,168
October 2017	4.1%	4.2%	3.3%	12,418
September 2017	4.2%	4.2%	3.2%	12,335
August 2017	4.4%	4.2%	3.4%	12,829
July 2017	4.3%	4.2%	3.3%	12,561
June 2017	4.3%	4.2%	3.2%	12,067
May 2017	4.3%	4.2%	3.4%	12,720
April 2017	4.4%	4.3%	3.6%	13,747