Employment and Workforce Executive Director William Floyd’s Statement July 2026 Employment Situation
Employment and Workforce Executive Director William Floyd’s Statement
July 2026 Employment Situation
Columbia, S.C. – "For the fifth consecutive month, the South Carolina unemployment rate has dropped and is now at 4.2 percent, which is its lowest level since February 2025. As of July 2026, the estimated number of employed people in South Carolina reached another record high of 2,560,443, an increase of more than 73,000 residents over the previous twelve months,” said South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) Executive Director William Floyd.
“While the national employment growth rate has fallen to approximately 0.2 percent year-over-year, South Carolina continues to outpace the nation with a job growth rate of 1.3 percent over the past twelve months. There was a broad expansion of positive year-over-year economic growth across most sectors, with Construction, Other Services, and Education and Healthcare experiencing the highest rates of growth between July 2025 to July 2026," continued Floyd.
“Our agency is currently preparing for Workforce Development Month in September, in which we celebrate the success stories and talent of South Carolina’s workforce, promote job fairs and training programs, recognize the collaborative achievements of public and private workforce partners, and showcase our state’s industries. Governor McMaster and I will recognize the 2026 Workforce Champion Award recipient at the Governor’s Mansion on September 1st, honoring an employer who demonstrates extraordinary effort, innovation, and commitment to connecting students and educators with career exploration opportunities. Make sure to follow dew.sc.gov/wdm and our social media accounts to keep track of all of our exciting activities throughout the next month,” stated Floyd.
“In July, our agency launched the Where There’s More campaign, funded by the State Workforce Development Board, by broadcasting TV and radio commercials, as well as digital ads, promoting the extensive jobseeker and employer services offered at SC Works centers. These commercials can be viewed here and have been distributed along with social media ads across the majority of the state. Specialized ads are available on gas station screens in some of our most rural areas focusing on local job fairs, rural workforce events, the state’s largest job database featuring over 80,000 positions, and the SC Works Virtual Engagement Center, where individuals can access services virtually on any device. True to its campaign name, there is always more to discover at SC Works, and our agency is making sure to spread awareness of these resources from our biggest metropolitan areas to our smallest towns, so all jobseekers stay informed and are ready to be employed," 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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