A new employment record was set as 12,576 people found work in February, bringing the number of people employed to 2,163,109. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained unchanged for the sixth consecutive month at 5.5 percent.
The labor force also saw sizeable growth with 13,604 people entering the workforce from January to February, raising the total labor force to 2,288,643. The number of unemployed rose slightly by 1,028 in February, ending at 125,534.
Over the past year, employment expanded by 60,212, while those who were unemployed decreased by 20,216. The labor force has grown by 39,996 since February 2015.
Nationally, February’s unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.9 percent.
Dillon County’s rate was down to 7.9 percent from 8.1 percent the previous month.
Nonfarm Employment by Industry (Seasonally Adjusted)
February’s seasonally adjusted, nonfarm payroll employment increased (+1,900) since January to 2,030,600. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+3,500) led the upturn, followed by Leisure and Hospitality (+3,100); Other Services (+1,400); Manufacturing (+1,300); Education and Health Services (+900); and Construction (+300). The largest decreases were reported in Professional and Business Services (-6,700) and Government (-1,200) with lesser job losses in Financial Activities (-600) and Information (-100).
Compared to February 2015, seasonally adjusted, nonfarm jobs were up 42,200. Industries with significant increases were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+8,600); Education and Health Services (+8,600); Professional and Business Services (+7,400); Construction (+5,700); Manufacturing (+3,900); Leisure and Hospitality (+3,500); Government (+3,300); and Other Services (+1,300). The only over-the-year losses were in Information (-200) and Financial Activities (-100).
Nonfarm Employment by Industry (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
Not seasonally adjusted, nonfarm payroll employment increased (+11,400) from January to February, hitting a total of 2,009,100. Growth was reported in Leisure and Hospitality (+5,200); Government (+4,600); Education and Health Services (+2,900); Manufacturing (+1,100); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+1,000); Construction (+900); and Other Services (+800). The most significant job loss was seen in Professional and Business Services (-4,300). Minor declines were in the Financial Activities (-700) and Information (-100) industries.
Since February 2015, not seasonally adjusted, nonfarm jobs were up (+48,900) overall. Strong annual gains came from Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+9,700); Education and Health Services (+8,600); Professional and Business Services (+7,900); Construction (+6,800); Leisure and Hospitality (+6,000); Government (+4,300); Manufacturing (+3,400); Other Services (+1,400); Financial Activities (+800); and Mining and Logging (+200). The only industry reporting employment losses was Information (-200).
