Department of Numbers

Sumter, South Carolina Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Sumter rose 0.1 percentage points in January 2023 to 4.0%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.8 percentage points higher than the South Carolina rate. The unemployment rate in Sumter peaked in September 2009 at 12.9% and is now 8.9 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.9% in August 2019, the unemployment rate has now grown by 1.1 percentage points. You can also compare Sumter unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.4% -0.1 -0.6
South Carolina 3.2% -0.1 -0.1
Sumter 4.0% +0.1 0.0
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with January 2023 data as February 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 4,129 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 1,212 in September 2019, the number of unemployed has now grown by 443. Sumter employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Sumter, South Carolina) is also available.

Unemployed Persons January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Sumter 1,655 +39 -39

Number of Unemployed Persons

Sumter, South Carolina Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
South Carolina
Unemployment Rate
Sumter
Unemployment Rate
Sumter
Unemployed
February
2023
3.6%
January
2023
3.4% 3.2% 4.0% 1,655
December
2022
3.5% 3.3% 3.9% 1,616
November
2022
3.6% 3.3% 3.9% 1,593
October
2022
3.7% 3.3% 3.8% 1,592
September
2022
3.5% 3.3% 3.7% 1,527
August
2022
3.7% 3.3% 3.6% 1,516
July
2022
3.5% 3.2% 3.7% 1,557
June
2022
3.6% 3.2% 3.8% 1,617
May
2022
3.6% 3.2% 3.9% 1,654
April
2022
3.6% 3.2% 3.9% 1,649
March
2022
3.6% 3.2% 4.0% 1,683

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.