Area Unemployment Figures Creep Upward

Unemployment rates were up for Florence, Darlington and Marion counties in January, according to South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce data released April 8.

Florence County’s January unemployment rate was 5.9%, up from its December rate of 5.2%.

Darlington County’s January unemployment rate was 6.3%, up from the December rate of 5.6%. Marion County’s rate was 8.0% in January, up from 6.9% in December. It had the fourth-highest unemployment rate among the state’s 46 counties.

The release of the January data was delayed because the Bureau of Labor Statistics had to conduct its annual revision of national estimates.

“As of January 2026, South Carolina’s workforce grew to 2,516,227 individuals,” S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce Executive Director William Floyd said. “While we closely monitor unemployment trends (4.9 percent as of January), the state’s labor force, which includes those currently working and those unemployed looking for work, expanded again to a record-setting 2,646,507 during the month, a substantial increase of 62,659 people compared to the same time last year.”

Other county unemployment figures:

Chesterfield – 6.5%

Clarendon – 7.8%

Dillon – 7.1%

Lee – 7.6%

Sumter – 6.7%

Williamsburg – 9.6% (highest rate in the state)