Department of Numbers

Sumter, South Carolina Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Sumter fell 0.1 percentage points in September 2023 to 3.5%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.6 percentage points higher than the South Carolina rate. The unemployment rate in Sumter peaked in September 2009 at 12.9% and is now 9.4 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.9% in August 2019, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.6 percentage points. You can also compare Sumter 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
Sumter 3.5% -0.1 -0.4
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: Sumter, South Carolina, National

Sumter, South Carolina monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Sumter, South Carolina Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Sumter peaked in September 2009 at 5,784. There are now 4,269 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 1,220 in September 2019, the number of unemployed has now grown by 295. Sumter employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Sumter, South Carolina) is also available.

Unemployed Persons September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Sumter 1,515 -34 -100

Number of Unemployed Persons

Sumter, South Carolina Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
South Carolina
Unemployment Rate
Sumter
Unemployment Rate
Sumter
Unemployed
October
2023
3.9% 2.9%
September
2023
3.8% 2.9% 3.5% 1,515
August
2023
3.8% 3.0% 3.6% 1,549
July
2023
3.5% 3.1% 3.9% 1,666
June
2023
3.6% 3.1% 4.0% 1,679
May
2023
3.7% 3.1% 4.0% 1,699
April
2023
3.4% 3.1% 4.1% 1,709
March
2023
3.5% 3.2% 4.1% 1,736
February
2023
3.6% 3.2% 4.1% 1,701
January
2023
3.4% 3.2% 4.0% 1,663
December
2022
3.5% 3.3% 3.9% 1,634
November
2022
3.6% 3.3% 3.9% 1,637

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.