North Charleston’s January 2024 job market exhibited signs of stability with moderate growth, mirroring broader Charleston metro area trends. While official city-level data remains unavailable, insights gleaned from regional reports and job aggregators paint a cautiously optimistic picture.
Highlights:
- Job Growth: The Charleston metro area added 1,500 jobs in January, representing a 0.6% increase, exceeding initial expectations.
- Unemployment Rate: Charleston’s unemployment rate remained low at 2.8%, indicating a competitive job market.
- Wage Growth: Average hourly wages in South Carolina continued an upward trajectory, reaching $28.54 in January, a 4.5% increase year-over-year.
What Industries and Occupations Grew:
- Leisure and Hospitality: This sector led job gains, adding 800 positions, likely fueled by the tourism season.
- Professional and Business Services: Growth was observed in areas like healthcare and technology within this category.
- Trade, Transportation, and Utilities: Modest growth occurred, with jobs added in retail and transportation sectors.
- In-Demand Occupations: Cashiers, registered nurses, customer service representatives, truck drivers, and software developers continued to see high demand.
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, exceeding 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.
Compare to Previous Month:
- Job Growth: December 2023 saw a higher job gain compared to January 2024.
Future Outlook:
While January often exhibits fluctuations due to seasonal hiring, the Charleston metro area’s overall job growth trajectory remains positive. Continued strength in tourism, healthcare, and technology sectors is anticipated for the coming months.
10 Growing Occupations in North Charleston, SC (as of January 2024):
- Registered Nurse
- Software Developer
- Customer Service Representative
- Truck Driver
- Cashier
- Physical Therapist
- Sales Representative
- Marketing Specialist
- Accountant
- Construction Laborer
10 Companies Hiring Now in North Charleston, SC (as of February 25, 2024):
- Boeing
- Bosch
- Volvo
- T-Mobile
- Roper St. Francis Healthcare
- MUSC Health
- Charleston International Airport
- The Charleston School District
- The City of North Charleston
- Blackbaud
Resources:
- South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce
- ZipRecruiter