Charleston-North Charleston, South Carolina Unemployment
The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Charleston rose 0.1 percentage points in November 2023 to 2.5%. 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 April 2020 at 11.6% and is now 9.1 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.4% in September 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.1 percentage points. You can also compare Charleston unemployment with unemployment in other cities.
| Unemployment Rate | November 2023 | Month/Month | Year/Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| National | 3.7% | -0.1 | +0.1 |
| South Carolina | 3.0% | +0.1 | -0.3 |
| Charleston | 2.5% | +0.1 | -0.3 |
Unemployment Rate: Charleston, South Carolina, National
Note: Recessions shown in gray.
Charleston, South Carolina Unemployed
The number of people unemployed in Charleston peaked in April 2020 at 43,814. There are now 33,178 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 10,312 in September 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 324. Charleston employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Charleston, South Carolina) is also available.
| Unemployed Persons | November 2023 | Month/Month | Year/Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | 10,636 | +255 | -575 |
Number of Unemployed Persons
Charleston, South Carolina Unemployment History
| Date | National Unemployment Rate |
South Carolina Unemployment Rate |
Charleston Unemployment Rate |
Charleston Unemployed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 2023 |
3.7% | — | — | — |
| November 2023 |
3.7% | 3.0% | 2.5% | 10,636 |
| October 2023 |
3.8% | 2.9% | 2.4% | 10,381 |
| September 2023 |
3.8% | 2.9% | 2.4% | 10,312 |
| August 2023 |
3.8% | 3.0% | 2.5% | 10,596 |
| July 2023 |
3.5% | 3.1% | 2.7% | 11,440 |
| June 2023 |
3.6% | 3.1% | 2.7% | 11,438 |
| May 2023 |
3.7% | 3.1% | 2.7% | 11,461 |
| April 2023 |
3.4% | 3.1% | 2.8% | 11,558 |
| March 2023 |
3.5% | 3.2% | 2.8% | 11,713 |
| February 2023 |
3.6% | 3.2% | 2.8% | 11,485 |
| January 2023 |
3.4% | 3.2% | 2.7% | 11,150 |
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. ↩
Department of Numbers
The Department of Numbers contextualizes public data so that individuals can form independent opinions on everyday social and economic matters.
