According to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provisional estimates, in July 2003 the seasonally adjusted civilian labor force in South Carolina numbered 2,036,800, with approximately 143,300 workers unemployed, yielding an unemployment rate of 7.0%, compared to the national average of 6.2% for the same period. Since the beginning of the BLS data series in 1978, the highest unemployment rate recorded was 11.7% in February 1983. The historical low was 3.3% in March 1998. It is estimated that in 2001, 5.9% of the labor force was employed in construction; 17.2% in manufacturing; 5.5% in transportation, communications, and public utilities; 20.0% in trade; 4.5% in finance, insurance, and real estate; 21.9% in services; 17.1% in government; and 1.3% in agriculture.
South Carolina has one of the lowest work stoppage rates in the nation and only a small percentage of the total labor force is organized. Textile, clothing, and ladies' garment workers' unions make up the bulk of the membership, followed by transportation and electrical workers. Several large textile companies have made major efforts to prevent their workers from organizing unions; conflicts between management and workers have continued for years, but without serious violence.
The US Department of Labor reported that in 2002, 81,000 of South Carolina's 1,643,000 employed wage and salary workers were members of unions. This represented 4.9% of those so employed, up from 4.5% in 2001. Despite the increase, South Carolina is 2nd only to North Carolina in having the lowest union membership rate in the nation. The national average is 13.2%. In all, 101,000 workers (6.1%) were represented by unions. In addition to union members, this category includes workers who report no union affiliation but whose jobs are covered by a union contract. South Carolina is one of 22 states with a right-to-work law.