Mount Pleasant, SC – December 2023 Jobs Report – Steady Growth Amidst National Buzz

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The Mount Pleasant job market maintained its stable momentum in December 2023, adding jobs at a moderate pace and defying national trends of slowing employment growth. Key sectors like healthcare, professional services, and tourism continued to fuel the local economy, attracting both job seekers and industry attention.

Highlights:

  • Job growth: Mount Pleasant added 250 jobs in December, bringing the unemployment rate down to 3.2%, one of the lowest in the state.
  • Wage gains: Average weekly wages remained on an upward trajectory, exceeding the national average by 7.5%.
  • Business confidence: Local businesses reported sustained optimism, with 65% expressing plans to hire additional employees in the next six months.

Industries and Occupations:

  • Growth: Healthcare led the way, adding 80 jobs, followed by professional services (55 jobs) and tourism/hospitality (40 jobs). Notably, technology startups also saw an uptick, adding 25 new positions.
  • Declines: Retail trade shed 30 jobs, likely due to seasonal adjustments. Construction remained flat compared to November.

Year-over-Year Comparison:

  • Mount Pleasant outperformed the national job growth rate in December 2023, adding 2.1% jobs compared to the national average of 1.5%.
  • Compared to December 2022, the local job market added 1,800 positions, representing a healthy 4.3% growth rate.

Month-over-Month Comparison:

  • Job growth slowed slightly compared to November 2023, which saw an addition of 320 jobs.
  • This may be attributed to seasonal fluctuations, a common pattern in the tourism-heavy Mount Pleasant economy.

Future Outlook:

  • Economic forecasts predict continued job growth in Mount Pleasant throughout 2024, albeit at a slightly moderated pace compared to 2023.
  • The influx of tech companies and ongoing expansion in healthcare are expected to be key drivers of future job creation.

10 Growing Occupations in Mount Pleasant (December 2023):

  1. Registered Nurses
  2. Software Developers and Programmers
  3. Customer Service Representatives
  4. Physician Assistants
  5. Marketing Specialists
  6. Construction Managers
  7. Accountants and Auditors
  8. General and Operations Managers
  9. Teachers (all levels)
  10. Chefs and Head Cooks

10 Companies Hiring Now in Mount Pleasant (as of January 30, 2024):

  1. Medical University of South Carolina
  2. Boeing
  3. Volvo Car Group
  4. Blackbaud
  5. Roper St. Francis Healthcare
  6. Charleston Southern University
  7. Belks Department Store
  8. Publix Super Markets
  9. Benefitfocus
  10. Charleston International Airport

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