Charleston | SC | USA

Labor & Employment Stats

The Charleston region offers local employers a growing pool of 400,000+ skilled workers. The region’s education and workforce training system continues to build a solid base of technically-skilled workers in engineering, information technology and more.

Civilian Workforce

Civilian Workforce20122022% ChangeForecast 2023Forecast 2024
Labor Force343,758404,23217.6%420,000435,500
Employed318,178392,63323.4%409,200425,050
Unemployed25,58011,599-10,80010,450
Unemployment Rate (%)7.4%2.9%-2.6%2.4%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; 2023/24 Forecast from Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, 10/2023

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Expanded Labor Pool

Expanded Labor Pool
Commuters into MSA67,100
Commuters out of MSA58,200
Military Retirees15,000
Annual Post-Secondary Degrees Conferred 7,500
Annual High School Graduates 6,500
Source: U.S. Census Bureau and S.C. Department of Education, 2023

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Employment by Industry

NAICS = North American Industry Classification System; Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics (CES).

Unionization Rate

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