Mount Pleasant, SC – January 2024 Jobs Report – Encouraging Signs Amidst Seasonality

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The January 2024 jobs report for Mount Pleasant paints a cautiously optimistic picture. While specific data isn’t readily available at the town level, broader Charleston metro area and South Carolina figures offer valuable insights. Remember, January often shows fluctuations due to seasonal hiring patterns.

Highlights:

  • Overall Job Growth: The Charleston metro area added 1,500 jobs in January, exceeding expectations and representing a 0.6% increase
  • Unemployment Rate: Charleston’s unemployment rate remained low at 2.8%, indicating a tight labor market.
  • Wage Growth: Average hourly wages in South Carolina continued to rise, reaching $28.54 in January, a 4.5% increase year-over-year (South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce).

What Industries and Occupations Grew:

  • Leisure and Hospitality: This sector led job gains, adding 800 positions, likely due to the tourism season.
  • Professional and Business Services: This category saw growth, particularly in areas like healthcare and technology.
  • Trade, Transportation, and Utilities: Modest growth occurred in this sector, with jobs added in retail and transportation.
  • In-Demand Occupations: Cashiers, registered nurses, customer service representatives, truck drivers, and software developers continued to see high demand (ZipRecruiter).

What Industries and Occupations Shrank:

  • Construction: This industry experienced a slight decline, likely due to seasonal patterns.
  • Manufacturing: Job losses were observed in some manufacturing sectors, reflecting national trends.

Compare to Same Month Last Year:

  • Job Growth: Charleston metro area added 2,800 jobs in January 2023, outpacing January 2024’s gain.
  • Unemployment Rate: The unemployment rate was slightly higher in January 2023 at 3.0%.
  • Wage Growth: Wage growth in South Carolina was comparable year-over-year, suggesting sustained momentum (South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce).

Compare to Previous Month:

  • Job Growth: December 2023 saw a higher gain of 2,300 jobs in the Charleston metro area, highlighting January’s slight slowdown.
  • Unemployment Rate: The unemployment rate remained steady compared to December 2023.
  • Wage Growth: Wage growth showed marginal movement compared to December 2023 (South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce).

Future Outlook:

  • The Charleston metro area is projected to add 27,800 jobs in 2024, indicating continued economic growth (Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce).
  • Experts anticipate ongoing demand for skilled workers in healthcare, technology, tourism, and professional services (The Post and Courier).

10 Growing Occupations in Mount Pleasant (Charleston Metro Area):

  1. Registered Nurses
  2. Software Developers and Applications Specialists
  3. Customer Service Representatives
  4. Sales Representatives
  5. Truck Drivers
  6. Home Health Aides and Personal Care Aides
  7. Marketing Specialists
  8. Elementary and Middle School Teachers
  9. Chefs and Head Cooks
  10. Physical Therapists

10 Companies Hiring Now in Mount Pleasant:

  1. Boeing
  2. Roper St. Francis Healthcare
  3. The Charleston School District
  4. Bosch
  5. Blackbaud
  6. Benefitfocus
  7. Nucor Corporation
  8. Hotel Bennett
  9. Benefitfocus
  10. The Charleston Place Hotel

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