Counties with the highest unemployment in South Carolina

2024 ended on a high note, with the unemployment rate relatively unchanged at 4.1%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Jan. 10.

Unemployment rates were higher in November than the prior year in 308 of 389 metro areas, though they dropped in 60 areas and remained unchanged in 21 areas, the BLS reported.

The lion's share of job growth remained in government, social assistance, and health care, with openings in nursing, residential care facilities, and home health care leading employment in the latter sector.

To get a glimpse of regional variations in employment, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in South Carolina, using BLS data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in November 2024, with initial ties broken by the number of unemployed people within that county, though some ties may remain. County-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.

Key takeaways: Biden's economic legacy, inauguration day, and immigration's impact on jobs

The latest BLS report highlights the final job figures under the Biden administration, giving the outgoing president a win during his final weeks in office. President Biden highlighted the creation of 16.6 million jobs during his term in a Jan. 11 statement.

"Although I inherited the worst economic crisis in decades with unemployment above 6% when I took office, we've had the lowest average unemployment rate of any administration in 50 years with unemployment at 4.1% as I leave," he said.

Incoming President-elect Donald Trump will inherit a strong economy, with forecasts tracking ongoing growth into 2025. However, uncertainty remains. Trump's proposed tariffs on foreign goods coupled with a sweeping deportation operation may have a significant impact on the economy, accelerating inflation and tamping down job growth, some experts forecast.

"I worry that immigration will be significantly lower than the long-term average of 1.0 million. I worry that tariffs will be universal and lead to a trade war. That would not be good for the economy and earnings," Hugh Johnson, chairman emeritus at Graypoint, told U.S. News.

What does all this mean for middle-class Americans? The unemployment rate is projected to remain stable, only creeping up to 4.3%, according to the Federal Reserve's latest Summary of Economic Projections. Experts suggest paying down mortgages, revisiting investment strategies, and paying attention to taxes before rates possibly shift as Inauguration Day draws close.

The big story: California wildfires still rage

Although Goldman predicts only a "modest drag" on U.S. jobs due to the devastating California wildfires, the situation is still ongoing. Small businesses destroyed by the fires will impact local jobs; in the wake of the fires, a surge in construction and the need for labor and materials might lead to localized shortages and rising costs, impacting several industries.

However, amid political and environmental uncertainty, it's unclear which way the winds will blow. Americans will have to simply wait for the smoke to clear.

To get a better idea of your community's current economy, read on to see the counties with the highest unemployment in South Carolina.

#46. Charleston County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 236,133 people (8,941 unemployed)

#45. Hampton County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,358 people (338 unemployed)

#44. Lexington County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 159,664 people (6,369 unemployed)

#43. Dorchester County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 87,479 people (3,621 unemployed)

#42. Saluda County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,807 people (368 unemployed)

#41. Jasper County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,072 people (608 unemployed)

#40. Oconee County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 36,004 people (1,545 unemployed)

#39. Greenville County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 274,043 people (11,886 unemployed)

#38. Beaufort County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 81,680 people (3,630 unemployed)

#37. Anderson County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 96,235 people (4,204 unemployed)

#36. Berkeley County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 120,828 people (5,325 unemployed)

#35. Newberry County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 18,620 people (862 unemployed)

#34. Chesterfield County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 21,429 people (989 unemployed)

#33. York County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 157,179 people (7,231 unemployed)

#32. Edgefield County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,460 people (492 unemployed)

#31. Florence County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 70,466 people (3,290 unemployed)

#30. Spartanburg County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 163,822 people (7,685 unemployed)

#29. Kershaw County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 31,045 people (1,475 unemployed)

#28. Pickens County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 61,219 people (2,927 unemployed)

#27. Aiken County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 74,797 people (3,558 unemployed)

#26. Colleton County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 2.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 16,811 people (830 unemployed)

#25. Calhoun County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.0%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,769 people (336 unemployed)

#24. Laurens County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 31,722 people (1,577 unemployed)

#23. Richland County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 209,396 people (10,541 unemployed)

#22. McCormick County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 2.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,634 people (186 unemployed)

#21. Darlington County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 31,790 people (1,645 unemployed)

#20. Lancaster County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 46,298 people (2,421 unemployed)

#19. Abbeville County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,782 people (517 unemployed)

#18. Georgetown County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 2.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 26,946 people (1,432 unemployed)

#17. Horry County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 2.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 158,899 people (8,456 unemployed)

#16. Greenwood County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 2.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 30,861 people (1,736 unemployed)

#15. Union County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 2.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 11,874 people (717 unemployed)

#14. Fairfield County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.1%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 2.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,741 people (594 unemployed)

#13. Sumter County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 2.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 42,945 people (2,618 unemployed)

#12. Marion County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.2%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 2.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 13,224 people (819 unemployed)

#11. Clarendon County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.3%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 2.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,166 people (771 unemployed)

#10. Chester County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 2.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,260 people (926 unemployed)

#9. Cherokee County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 2.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 22,761 people (1,520 unemployed)

#8. Lee County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 3.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,650 people (454 unemployed)

#7. Dillon County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 2.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 13,231 people (919 unemployed)

#6. Barnwell County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.0%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 2.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,601 people (529 unemployed)

#5. Allendale County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,420 people (175 unemployed)

#4. Orangeburg County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 2.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 33,807 people (2,471 unemployed)

#3. Williamsburg County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 3.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,995 people (776 unemployed)

#2. Bamberg County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 8.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 2.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,632 people (386 unemployed)

#1. Marlboro County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 8.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 2.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,714 people (665 unemployed)

This story features data reporting by Elena Cox, writing by Alizah Salario, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.