Leisure and hospitality jobs returning to pre-pandemic levels

Job numbers in South Carolina have nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels, according to the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce.

In May 2022, the number of South Carolinians working stood at 2.3 million, and the number of jobs in the state stood at 2.13 million in the final quarter of 2021. That compares with the 2.14 million jobs the state had just two years earlier, before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Greenville County, whose unemployment rate has beat both the national and state averages, was up to 2.7% from 2.2% in April 2022.

Wages, however, increased 18% from $931 to $1,101 per paycheck.

“South Carolina is a great place to start a business, as many thousands of owners have discovered, and our workers are benefiting from the prosperity that is being created,” said S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce Executive Director Dan Ellzey.

The number of claims for unemployment rose slightly from June 5-11, with about 500 more claims than the week prior. The state’s unemployment rate in May 2022 was 3.3%, unchanged from April, which is just slightly below the national average of 3.6%. The state unemployment rate has been dropping steadily from its April 2020 high of 11.6%.

Greenville County, whose unemployment rate has beat both the national and state averages, was up to 2.7% from 2.2% in April 2022. As of May 2021, the rate was at 3.2% and dropping, showing one of the best post-pandemic performances in the country.

One of the big surprises was the leisure and hospitality industry — which includes jobs in the arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services — had nearly recovered to its pre-pandemic level of 268,000. In April 2020, the number of jobs in the industry plummeted to just 155,000 during pandemic lockdowns and restrictions.

“Today, nearly all those jobs have returned, and average weekly wages are up more than 20%,” said DEW Research and Planning Administrator Brandi Caldwell.

All counties showed increases in relative job numbers, but the counties with the greatest increases between April 2020 and the end of 2021 were Anderson (+1,162), Spartanburg (+1,038) and Berkeley (+953).

“It is worth noting that, if anything, these figures likely understate job creation in South Carolina,” said S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce LMI Director Dr. Bryan Grady.