Employment and Workforce Executive Director William Floyd’s Statement August 2026 Employment Situation
Employment and Workforce Executive Director William Floyd’s Statement
August 2026 Employment Situation
Columbia, S.C. – "August was another terrific month of growth for South Carolina’s workforce as the number of people working rose to 2,566,682, an increase of 6,208 more people compared to last month, and 73,996 more employed compared to the same time last year. The good news continues with the unemployment rate dropping for the sixth month in a row in August to 4.1%, making it in line with the national unemployment rate,” said South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) Executive Director William Floyd.
“The labor force, which is the number of people working and those actively looking for work, grew by 2,804 individuals month-over-month to a new record high of 2,675,730. The pace of job growth increased in August with total non-farm payrolls increasing 1.6 percent year-over-year. This is impressive compared to the national level having only 0.4 percent growth over the same period. Nearly all industry sectors also saw positive year-over-year growth with the strongest showings in Construction, Leisure and Hospitality, and Other Services," continued Floyd.
“What better time to announce these positive workforce trends than during Workforce Development Month in September, when we celebrate our industries, showcase the talent of our labor force, and promote even more opportunities to connect jobseekers with employers statewide. I had the honor of Lt. Governor Pamela Evette presenting the Governor’s Workforce Development Month proclamation to me at the 2026 Workforce and Manufacturing Summit on September 1st. That same day, Governor McMaster, Lt. Governor Evette, and I had the privilege of recognizing Savannah River Nuclear Solutions at the Governor’s Mansion as DEW’s 2026 Workforce Champion Award recipient for demonstrating extraordinary effort, innovation, and commitment to connecting students and educators to career awareness, exposure, and experiential learning opportunities in the nuclear sector through their apprenticeship programs,” stated Floyd.
“Our agency also announced the winners of our 2026 SC@Work Photo Contest, with Allegiance Flag Supply taking the grand prize for their photograph of an American flag being sewn, representing the craftsmanship and pride in the work they do. The seven photo contest winners reflect different industries, showcasing the dignity of all jobs the Palmetto State has to offer. In my upcoming op-ed in The Post & Courier, I touch on the value of all career pathways and the importance of educating young people early about the variety of options available to them. I encourage everyone to keep track of upcoming events and exciting activities going on during Workforce Development Month by visiting dew.sc.gov/wdm. While DEW is hosting almost 200 job fairs across the state in September, the good news does not stop this month as events like these, as well as wide-ranging jobseeker and employer services, are provided all year round at SC Works centers statewide for anyone to take advantage of,” concluded Floyd.
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The S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce is putting South Carolinians to work. The agency has four missions: (1) workforce development; (2) free job match employment services; (3) unemployment insurance; and (4) labor market information. All four missions contribute to workforce development in South Carolina. The agency is dedicated to advancing South Carolina through services and programs that meet the needs of our businesses, job seekers, and those looking to advance their careers.
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