Department of Numbers

Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, South Carolina Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Hilton Head Island fell 0.0 percentage points in September 2023 to 2.8%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.1 percentage points lower than the South Carolina rate. The unemployment rate in Hilton Head Island peaked in April 2020 at 11.3% and is now 8.5 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.8% in August 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.0 percentage points. You can also compare Hilton Head Island unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.8% 0.0 +0.3
South Carolina 2.9% -0.1 -0.4
Hilton Head Island 2.8% 0.0 -0.3
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with September 2023 data as October metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, National

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Hilton Head Island peaked in April 2020 at 9,485. There are now 6,942 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area.

Unemployed Persons September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Hilton Head Island 2,543 -42 -223

Number of Unemployed Persons

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
South Carolina
Unemployment Rate
Hilton Head Island
Unemployment Rate
Hilton Head Island
Unemployed
October
2023
3.9% 2.9%
September
2023
3.8% 2.9% 2.8% 2,543
August
2023
3.8% 3.0% 2.8% 2,585
July
2023
3.5% 3.1% 3.0% 2,768
June
2023
3.6% 3.1% 3.0% 2,728
May
2023
3.7% 3.1% 3.0% 2,712
April
2023
3.4% 3.1% 3.0% 2,750
March
2023
3.5% 3.2% 3.1% 2,817
February
2023
3.6% 3.2% 3.1% 2,794
January
2023
3.4% 3.2% 3.0% 2,702
December
2022
3.5% 3.3% 3.1% 2,738
November
2022
3.6% 3.3% 3.1% 2,743

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.