Employment rose in 6 of the 7 largest counties in South Carolina from June 2023 to June 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties are the 369 U.S. counties or county equivalents with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2023.)  Regional Commissioner Victoria G. Lee noted that Lexington County had the largest over-the-year increase in employment at 2.5 percent, followed by Charleston County (+2.2 percent) and Horry County (+2.1 percent). (See chart 1 and table 1.)

  

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Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in covered employment among the largest counties in South Carolina, June 2024

County	Percent change, June 2024
Lexington	2.5
Charleston	2.2
Horry	2.1
Spartanburg	1.8
Richland	1.7
Greenville	1.5
York	-0.6

National employment increased 0.8 percent over the year, with 259 of the 355 largest U.S. counties with published data reporting gains. Kings, NY, had the largest over-the-year increase in employment, with a gain of 4.0 percent. Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-3.0 percent).

Among the seven largest counties in South Carolina, employment was highest in Greenville County (297,800) in June 2024. Within Greenville County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the seven largest South Carolina counties accounted for 58.7 percent of total employment within the state. Nationwide, the 369 largest counties comprised 73.1 percent of total covered employment in the United States.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 39 counties in South Carolina with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in all 39 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,390 in the second quarter of 2024. (See table 2.)

All of South Carolina’s largest counties reported average weekly wage gains from the second quarter of 2023 to the second quarter of 2024. (See chart 2.) Spartanburg County had the largest gain (+5.7 percent). Increases among South Carolina’s other six largest counties ranged from 5.1 percent to 3.9 percent.

  

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Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest counties in South Carolina, second quarter 2024

County	Percent change, second quarter 2024
Spartanburg	5.7
York	5.1
Lexington	4.9
Greenville	4.7
Horry	4.6
Richland	4.1
Charleston	3.9

Nationwide, wages increased by 4.4 percent over the year. Among the 351 largest counties in the United States with published data, 348 had over-the-year wage increases. Hamilton, IN, had the largest percentage wage increase (+33.4 percent). Essex, MA, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-2.1 percent).

Average weekly wages in all seven of South Carolina’s largest counties were below the national average of $1,390 in the second quarter of 2024. Average weekly wages in South Carolina’s largest counties ranged from $1,243 in Charleston to $884 in Horry.

Among the 360 largest U.S. counties with published data, 87 reported average weekly wages above the U.S. average in the second quarter of 2024. Santa Clara, CA, had the highest average weekly wage ($3,632). Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 273 counties. Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage ($820).

Among the 39 smaller counties in South Carolina—those with employment below 75,000—Berkeley ($1,257) reported the highest average weekly wage. Dillon County ($783) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 46 counties in South Carolina were considered, 10 reported average weekly wages of less than $900, 15 registered wages from $900 to $999, 11 had wages from $1,000 to $1,099, and 10 had average weekly wages of $1,100 or higher. (See map 1.)