Data / Rankings / Unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate) / Cities in South Carolina

Cities in South Carolina by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate)

Orangeburg, SC had the highest unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 43 cities in 2023, at 11.8%. James Island, SC had the lowest, at 1.4%. The median was 4.3% and the figure for South Carolina was 5%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest11.8Orangeburg, SC
Lowest1.4James Island, SC
Median4.343 cities
South Carolina5History

All cities, 2023

Orangeburg, SC: 11.8 %Orangeburg, SC11.8Gaffney, SC: 11.3 %Gaffney, SC11.3Irmo, SC: 8.3 %Irmo, SC8.3Conway, SC: 8.2 %Conway, SC8.2Sumter, SC: 7.8 %Sumter, SC7.8Columbia, SC: 7.6 %Columbia, SC7.6Hardeeville, SC: 7.5 %Hardeeville, SC7.5Newberry, SC: 7.5 %Newberry, SC7.5Anderson, SC: 7.3 %Anderson, SC7.3Spartanburg, SC: 7 %Spartanburg, SC7North Myrtle Beach, SC: 7 %North Myrtle Beach, SC7Greenwood, SC: 6.6 %Greenwood, SC6.6York, SC: 6.5 %York, SC6.5Fountain Inn, SC: 6.2 %Fountain Inn, SC6.2Rock Hill, SC: 5.9 %Rock Hill, SC5.9Florence, SC: 5.6 %Florence, SC5.6Cayce, SC: 5.3 %Cayce, SC5.3Summerville, SC: 5 %Summerville, SC5Mauldin, SC: 4.9 %Mauldin, SC4.9Aiken, SC: 4.7 %Aiken, SC4.7North Charleston, SC: 4.3 %North Charleston, SC4.3Myrtle Beach, SC: 4.3 %Myrtle Beach, SC4.3Clemson, SC: 4.1 %Clemson, SC4.1Forest Acres, SC: 4.1 %Forest Acres, SC4.1West Columbia, SC: 4.1 %West Columbia, SC4.1Lexington, SC: 4.1 %Lexington, SC4.1Greenville, SC: 4 %Greenville, SC4Beaufort, SC: 3.9 %Beaufort, SC3.9Moncks Corner, SC: 3.9 %Moncks Corner, SC3.9Easley, SC: 3.9 %Easley, SC3.9North Augusta, SC: 3.8 %North Augusta, SC3.8Charleston, SC: 3.4 %Charleston, SC3.4Goose Creek, SC: 3.1 %Goose Creek, SC3.1Simpsonville, SC: 3.1 %Simpsonville, SC3.1Mount Pleasant, SC: 3 %Mount Pleasant, SC3Hilton Head Island, SC: 2.4 %Hilton Head Island, SC2.4Hanahan, SC: 2.3 %Hanahan, SC2.3Fort Mill, SC: 2.3 %Fort Mill, SC2.3Bluffton, SC: 2.3 %Bluffton, SC2.3Greer, SC: 2.2 %Greer, SC2.2Tega Cay, SC: 1.6 %Tega Cay, SC1.6Port Royal, SC: 1.4 %Port Royal, SC1.4James Island, SC: 1.4 %James Island, SC1.4Orangeburg, SC: 11.8 %Orangeburg, SC11.8Gaffney, SC: 11.3 %Gaffney, SC11.3Irmo, SC: 8.3 %Irmo, SC8.3Conway, SC: 8.2 %Conway, SC8.2Sumter, SC: 7.8 %Sumter, SC7.8Columbia, SC: 7.6 %Columbia, SC7.6Hardeeville, SC: 7.5 %Hardeeville, SC7.5Newberry, SC: 7.5 %Newberry, SC7.5Anderson, SC: 7.3 %Anderson, SC7.3Spartanburg, SC: 7 %Spartanburg, SC7North Myrtle Beach, SC: 7 %North Myrtle Beach, SC7Greenwood, SC: 6.6 %Greenwood, SC6.6York, SC: 6.5 %York, SC6.5Fountain Inn, SC: 6.2 %Fountain Inn, SC6.2Rock Hill, SC: 5.9 %Rock Hill, SC5.9Florence, SC: 5.6 %Florence, SC5.6Cayce, SC: 5.3 %Cayce, SC5.3Summerville, SC: 5 %Summerville, SC5Mauldin, SC: 4.9 %Mauldin, SC4.9Aiken, SC: 4.7 %Aiken, SC4.7North Charleston, SC: 4.3 %North Charleston, SC4.3Myrtle Beach, SC: 4.3 %Myrtle Beach, SC4.3Clemson, SC: 4.1 %Clemson, SC4.1Forest Acres, SC: 4.1 %Forest Acres, SC4.1West Columbia, SC: 4.1 %West Columbia, SC4.1Lexington, SC: 4.1 %Lexington, SC4.1Greenville, SC: 4 %Greenville, SC4Beaufort, SC: 3.9 %Beaufort, SC3.9Moncks Corner, SC: 3.9 %Moncks Corner, SC3.9Easley, SC: 3.9 %Easley, SC3.9North Augusta, SC: 3.8 %North Augusta, SC3.8Charleston, SC: 3.4 %Charleston, SC3.4Goose Creek, SC: 3.1 %Goose Creek, SC3.1Simpsonville, SC: 3.1 %Simpsonville, SC3.1Mount Pleasant, SC: 3 %Mount Pleasant, SC3Hilton Head Island, SC: 2.4 %Hilton Head Island, SC2.4Hanahan, SC: 2.3 %Hanahan, SC2.3Fort Mill, SC: 2.3 %Fort Mill, SC2.3Bluffton, SC: 2.3 %Bluffton, SC2.3Greer, SC: 2.2 %Greer, SC2.2Tega Cay, SC: 1.6 %Tega Cay, SC1.6Port Royal, SC: 1.4 %Port Royal, SC1.4James Island, SC: 1.4 %James Island, SC1.4
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCities2023 (%)Change on 2022
1Orangeburg, SC11.8-0.7 pts
2Gaffney, SC11.3+1.9 pts
3Irmo, SC8.3+3.7 pts
4Conway, SC8.2-0.6 pts
5Sumter, SC7.8-0.1 pts
6Columbia, SC7.6-0.3 pts
7Hardeeville, SC7.5-1.5 pts
7Newberry, SC7.5-0.2 pts
9Anderson, SC7.3+0.4 pts
10Spartanburg, SC7-0.5 pts
11North Myrtle Beach, SC7+0.5 pts
12Greenwood, SC6.6-0.8 pts
13York, SC6.5-1.8 pts
14Fountain Inn, SC6.2-3.4 pts
15Rock Hill, SC5.9+0.6 pts
16Florence, SC5.6+0.8 pts
17Cayce, SC5.3-0.1 pts
18Summerville, SC5-0.9 pts
19Mauldin, SC4.9-0.1 pts
20Aiken, SC4.7+0.8 pts
21North Charleston, SC4.30 pts
22Myrtle Beach, SC4.3+0.1 pts
23Clemson, SC4.1-0.2 pts
23Forest Acres, SC4.1-0.1 pts
25West Columbia, SC4.1+1.2 pts
26Lexington, SC4.1+0.5 pts
27Greenville, SC4+0.2 pts
28Beaufort, SC3.9-0.1 pts
29Moncks Corner, SC3.9+1.5 pts
30Easley, SC3.9+0.1 pts
31North Augusta, SC3.80 pts
32Charleston, SC3.4-0.2 pts
33Goose Creek, SC3.1-0.3 pts
34Simpsonville, SC3.1+0.3 pts
35Mount Pleasant, SC3-0.3 pts
36Hilton Head Island, SC2.4-0.4 pts
37Hanahan, SC2.3+0.3 pts
38Fort Mill, SC2.3-0 pts
39Bluffton, SC2.3+0.8 pts
40Greer, SC2.2-1.3 pts
41Tega Cay, SC1.6+0.4 pts
42Port Royal, SC1.4-0.2 pts
43James Island, SC1.4-0.3 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

Unemployed civilians aged 16 and over as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

An average over five years of survey responses, so it moves slowly. The official monthly and annual rates for states and counties are unemployment_rate, from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the cities are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more) (Cities in South Carolina by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in South Carolina by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/south-carolina-cities?period=2023. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Cities in South Carolina by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/south-carolina-cities?period=2023.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in South Carolina by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/south-carolina-cities?period=2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_cities_in_south_carolina_2023,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in South Carolina by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/south-carolina-cities?period=2023. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in South Carolina by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/south-carolina-cities?period=2023
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/south-carolina-cities?period=2023.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which city has the highest unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Orangeburg, SC, with 11.8% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which city has the lowest unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

James Island, SC, with 1.4% in 2023.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate): other rankings

Cities in South Carolina: more rankings