Author: South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce
This article originally appeared in the Spring 2025 issue of the South Carolina CPA Report
The newly launched South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) Labor Market Information (LMI) website is the one-stop shop for the most current and relevant data as well as analysis on the state’s workers, industries, and economy. You can get there by visiting dew.sc.gov and clicking on Labor Market Information or jumping directly to it with lmi.sc.gov.
As the official source for this information in South Carolina, LMI works with the U.S. Department of Labor to conduct and share labor force research. This comprehensive data gives employers and jobseekers the insight and context needed to make informed workforce-related decisions.
At lmi.sc.gov you can find the latest news, research wages, and economic data, study emerging trends in South Carolina’s job market, review the current economic climate for an industry anywhere in the state, analyze the labor market in areas of South Carolina where you may want to locate or expand your business, and much more!
Also on the website are Community Profiles, a user-friendly tool that provides quick access to and an understanding of labor market information and trends within South Carolina. Search data by county, Workforce Development Area (WDA), Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), Workforce Innovation Opportunity Area (WIOA) Region, or the State as a whole. Select an area to explore current and historical data, including unemployment rates, employment projections, wages, and other vital statistics related to local industry and businesses.
Elsewhere on the site, you’ll find links to the latest edition and an archive of SC Data Trends, a monthly magazine that takes a deep dive into South Carolina’s labor market conditions. You can also check in regularly for new installments of LMI Insights. Topics include job openings and turnover data, income comparisons, and available tax credits, just to name a few.
Last, DEW compiles and analyzes considerable administrative data from the programs that it operates. If you are employed by a state or local government entity, academic or research institution, or other eligible user, you can request DEW data by completing the form at dew.sc.gov/data-and-statistics/Request-Data-from-DEW. For general LMI inquiries not related to administrative data, please email lmicustomerservice@dew.sc.gov.
On the LMI website, you’ll also find a link to the brand new Find Your Future South Carolina website. This first-of-its-kind platform shows why South Carolina is a great place to work and live! It was created to connect dozens of state resources, including the LMI website, on one platform. This provides South Carolinians with information in one place that will guide them on their education and job journey and provide employers, educators, and workforce development partners across the state with quick links to the breadth of resources available to them. Employers can find places to post jobs, apprenticeships, internships, part-time and seasonal jobs for their organizations, and explore employer resources overall.
Visit FindYourFuture.sc.gov and be sure to complete the survey to tell us what you would like to see added.
