Charleston-North Charleston, South Carolina Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Charleston fell 0.0 percentage points in October 2018 to 2.8%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.5 percentage points lower than the South Carolina rate. The unemployment rate in Charleston peaked in December 2009 at 9.8% and is now 7.0 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.7% in May 2018, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.1 percentage points. You can also compare Charleston unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	October 2018	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	3.7%	0.0	-0.4
South Carolina	3.3%	0.0	-0.9
Charleston	2.8%	0.0	-0.8

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with October 2018 data as November 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 31,668. There are now 21,046 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 9,971 in June 2018, the number of unemployed has now grown by 651. Charleston employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Charleston, South Carolina) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	October 2018	Month/Month	Year/Year
Charleston	10,622	+266	-2,890

Number of Unemployed Persons

Charleston, South Carolina Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	South Carolina Unemployment Rate	Charleston Unemployment Rate	Charleston Unemployed
November 2018	3.7%	—	—	—
October 2018	3.7%	3.3%	2.8%	10,622
September 2018	3.7%	3.3%	2.8%	10,356
August 2018	3.9%	3.4%	2.7%	10,347
July 2018	3.9%	3.6%	2.7%	10,193
June 2018	4.0%	3.8%	2.7%	9,971
May 2018	3.8%	4.0%	2.7%	10,011
April 2018	3.9%	4.2%	3.0%	11,306
March 2018	4.1%	4.4%	3.7%	14,125
February 2018	4.1%	4.4%	3.8%	14,592
January 2018	4.1%	4.3%	4.0%	14,999
December 2017	4.1%	4.2%	3.6%	13,721