Here are the largest SC counties where employment is growing, new federal data shows
Many of South Carolina’s 46 counties have experienced a surge in population in recent years due to the state’s rising popularity. As a result, the number of employed individuals has mostly increased across the Palmetto State.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recently released a report on SC’s seven largest counties and how their employment numbers have changed percentage-wise between Sep. 2024 and Sep. 2025, using the latest data available.
Most of the counties they listed saw a significant increase in employment, but a couple of counties saw no change or even a decrease in their number of employees.
Here’s the ranking of SC’s largest counties by employment growth, from highest to lowest:
SC’s seven largest county’s employment changes
#1. Charleston County
Charleston County had the largest employment growth out of SC’s largest counties, with a gain of 1.1% between Sep. 2024 and Sep. 2025. The county ranks 47th in the nation in employment percentage increase.
Charleston County had the second-highest number of employees, employing 281,100 people in Sep. 2025.
#2/3. Greenville County
Among the seven largest counties in SC, employment was highest in Greenville County, with 300,400 employees working in Sep. 2025.
The county trailed behind Charleston County in total employment growth, gaining 0.9% between Sep. 2024 and Sep. 2025. Compared to the nation’s other counties, Greenville County ranks 59th in employment percentage increase.
#2/3. Horry County
Horry County had the same employment growth as Greenville County, with a gain of 0.9% in a year. As a result, Horry County also ranks 59th in the nation for employment percentage increase.
The county had the fifth-largest number of employees, with 147,000 people employed in Sep. 2025.
#4. York County
York County had 105,900 employed individuals in Sep. 2025, which is the lowest number among the counties on this list, but saw a 0.5% gain in employment between Sep. 2024 and Sep. 2025.
The county ranks 98th nationally in employment growth.
#5. Lexington County
Lexington County’s employment numbers didn’t grow as much as the previous counties, but it still gained 0.3% employees in a year, ranking the county 126th in the nation for employment percentage increase.
It had the sixth-largest number of employees, with 133,800 people employed in Sep. 2025.
#6. Spartanburg County
Spartanburg County is the only county on this list that had no change in its employment between Sep. 2024 and Sep. 2025. Even with no change, the county ranks 168th in the nation for employment percentage increase.
Spartanburg County has the fourth-largest number of employed individuals, with a total of 156,800 employees.
#7. Richland County
Richland County was the only county out of the seven largest SC counties that had a decrease in employment between Sep. 2024 and Sep. 2025.
Although it wasn’t much of a change, the county’s number of employees decreased by 0.1%, ranking it 183rd in the nation for employment percentage change.
Richland County still had the third-largest number of employees in the state in Sep. 2025, with 227,500 employees.