States · South Carolina

South Carolina Economy — Live Data

South Carolina's economy runs on automotive (BMW), aerospace (Boeing), and tourism. Unemployment sits at 4.6%, above the national rate of 4.2%. This page tracks the numbers that matter for South Carolina — jobs, house prices, and income — straight from federal data, updated automatically.

Unemployment Rate
4.6%
▲ Above US average (4.2%)
Nonfarm Jobs
2.41M
▲ +0.8% jobs YoY
House Prices (YoY)
+3.4%
▲ Rising
Per-Capita Income
$63K
▲ +4.2% vs prior year
South Carolina vs. United States — Unemployment
South Carolina
4.6%
United States
4.2%

South Carolina is running above the national unemployment rate. At 4.6% vs 4.2% nationally, local job seekers face a somewhat tougher market than the US average.

Jobs & Output
Nonfarm payrolls
2.41M
Job growth (YoY)
+0.8%
Real GDP (2025)
$287B
GDP growth (YoY)
+3.1%

Payrolls are monthly (BLS); GDP and income are annual (BEA). Key sectors in South Carolina: automotive (BMW), aerospace (Boeing), and tourism.

What this means if you live or work in South Carolina
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Job market
With unemployment at or above the national average, hiring in South Carolina is more employer-friendly — job seekers should expect more competition per opening.
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Housing
House prices are rising moderately (+3.4% YoY) — a balanced market by recent standards.
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Income
Per-capita personal income in South Carolina is $63,179, up 4.2% from the prior year. Compare against national inflation to gauge real purchasing power.
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Key industries
South Carolina's economy leans on automotive (BMW), aerospace (Boeing), and tourism — sector-specific national trends (energy prices, rates, consumer spending) hit this state through those channels first.
Key Numbers — South Carolina
Unemployment4.6%
US unemployment4.2%
Nonfarm jobs2.41M
House prices YoY+3.4%
Per-capita income$63,179
Real GDP$287B
Labor data as ofMay 2026
Nearby States
North Carolina economy → Georgia economy → Tennessee economy → Virginia economy → All 50 states →
National Data
US labor market → US housing data → US inflation → Full dashboard →

Data: FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis) — series SCUR, SCNA, SCSTHPI, SCPCPI, SCRGSP — plus BLS and BEA. Live values load on page open; figures shown are the most recent official releases. Not financial advice.