Upstate unemployment remains low, South Carolina sees first decline in labor force since 2020
Dan Ellzey, executive director of SCDEW, said July has been the first time there has been a decline in persons in the labor force since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
He says this can be contributed to people holding multiple jobs, people aging into the labor force and people aging out through retirement.
"It would become concerning if the trend continues," Ellzey said. "Right now, it's not a problem."
The unemployment rate for the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson market was 2.8% in July, according to the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce.
The Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson tri-county area makes up around 21% of the state's total employment, with 497,726 individuals in the workforce, according to SCDEW.
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Senior Research Economist Erica Von Nessen credits steady employment participation to the Upstate's population growth, as well as a rise in the number of businesses and jobs available.
"During the pandemic, a lot of people reevaluated their lives, decided to become an entrepreneur and started start-up businesses," Von Nessen said. "It will be a matter of time to see how well those do in the long run."
As of Aug. 19, there were 102,092 job postings listed on SC Works' website. Health care services had the most vacancies, listing more than 14,000 jobs.
Ellzey said a large number of job postings translates to higher employee demand.
New Spartanburg Piggly Wiggly holds job fairs, offering more than minimum wage for new hires
Some employers are increasing wages and benefits, while others are holding job fairs to recruit more workers to fill open positions.
The new Piggly Wiggly on Spartanburg's south side is offering more than the minimum wage to its new employees.
The grocery store is offering every starting position a minimum of $10 an hour. The state minimum wage is $7.25, which has not increased since 2008 when it was upped by 70 cents from $6.55.
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The maximum wage for a Piggly Wiggly employee is $20 an hour, reserved for management positions.
"Increasing wages and benefits and holding job fairs are strategies that employers do," said Philip Swicegood, professor of finance at Wofford Colle. "They try everything to see if it works. These strategies have limited success but you pull out all the stops."
The average hourly wage in South Carolina for private employment, according to the Current Employment Statistics, was $28.24 for July 2022.
Ellzey said many South Carolina workers continue to be more selective with their job search.
"If a company isn't paying $15 an hour, people won't want to work there," Ellzey said.
On Aug. 9 and 11, Spartanburg's Piggly Wiggly, hosted a job fair to find the store's first employees. The two-day event received 122 applicants.
Michelin North America Inc. and Plato's Closet Spartanburg were among the companies that held job fairs in an attempt to fill vacancies.
"Job fairs can be successful if they are specific," Ellzey said. He added that job fairs may not be successful if they are looking for a range of skill levels from janitor to engineer.
Brandi Wylie is an intern for the Spartanburg Herald-Journal and Greenville News. Reach her via email at bwylie@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: South Carolina sees first decline in labor force since 2020
