What Opportunities and Challenges Characterize Charleston's Labor Market Today?

This dashboard provides industry-level insight into Charleston's workforce – showing where people work and at what wage, how those sectors are growing, and what education needs look like – against a national benchmark. Use it to better understand the Charleston labor market, and how each major industry’s demand and growth exceed, match, or lag national benchmarks.

Labor Force Size422,036
Employment Growth2.8%
National Benchmark: 1.2%
Labor Force Participation Rate66.7%
National Benchmark: 62.3%
Unemployment Rate4.2%
National Benchmark: 4.3%
College Attainment Rate42.9%
National Benchmark: 42.0%

*Sources: BGI analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics, American Community Survey, and Lightcast data

Sort by
Share of Total Labor Force
Location Quotient
Job Postings
Employment Growth
Pay
Non-BA Share of Workforce
Health Care and Social Assistance
12.2%
-11.0%
35,712
+4.9%
$54,000
44.6%
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
9.7%
7.7%
22,224
+20.5%
$62,400
30.0%
Retail Trade
9.6%
-7.4%
27,629
-0.9%
$38,548
76.6%
Manufacturing
9.4%
6.1%
14,294
+3.9%
$56,245
67.2%
Educational Services
8.2%
-9.6%
18,304
-2.0%
$50,000
29.0%
Public Administration
8.1%
53.1%
4,675
-4.6%
$55,559
58.4%
Construction
7.7%
11.4%
10,289
+12.8%
$55,911
77.8%
Accommodation and Food Services
7.2%
9.5%
20,045
-16.5%
$35,880
78.1%
Transportation and Warehousing
4.9%
-7.4%
6,907
+7.2%
$57,200
78.5%
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services
4.8%
5.6%
48,314
+16.9%
$62,400
71.1%
Other Services (except Public Administration)
4.7%
-1.1%
6,379
-1.9%
$47,840
68.4%
Finance and Insurance
3.8%
-25.2%
7,046
+6.7%
$76,500
45.4%
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
2.6%
28.9%
7,402
+42.6%
$48,880
49.5%
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
2.0%
-5.3%
2,222
+1.9%
$38,480
58.0%
Significantly Below National Average
Below National Average
On par with National Average
Above National Average
Significantly Above National Average

*Sources: BGI analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics, American Community Survey, and Lightcast data

Key Insights
Demand is Running Hot Across Most Sectors
Job postings are above or much above benchmark in nearly every industry (including Health Care, Retail, Education, Construction, Admin Support, Manufacturing, and Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services). Employers are signaling strong near-term hiring intent relative to each sector’s local size.
A Real-Estate/Construction Cycle is in Full Swing
Real Estate & Rental/Leasing is the fastest grower (+42.6% YoY) with above-average concentration and postings much above benchmark—clear expansion signal. Construction is also surging (+12.8% YoY), pays above benchmark (≈ $56.2k), and shows much-above-benchmark postings.
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services are Scaling Quickly
Strong growth (+20.5% YoY), above-benchmark postings, and solid wages (≈ $61.9k). Concentration is near national (room to grow) though BA screens are tighter than benchmark.

Which Industries Can Drive Greater Economic Mobility in Charleston?* Click on a bubble to explore roles for this industry.

Explore how industries in Charleston compare in terms of talent mobility and employment growth. Use this tool to identify sectors that could benefit the most from upskilling or career pathways.Bubble size reflects the number of workers in each industry.

Mobility Gaps
Opportunity Engines
Redeployment Opportunities
Thinning Launchpads
Mobility Index
Employment Growth

How can Charleston Mobilize Talent to Strengthen Opportunity Engines?

This chart highlights the roles that merit recruiting, reskilling, or redesign focus.

Roles inEducation Level
Address Opportunity Gaps
Mobilize Now
Redeploy
Build On Strengths
Mobility Index
Talent Shortage Index

Which High-Mobility Roles Should Charleston Target to Unlock Opportunities?

This section highlights individual roles with high talent mobility – occupations where workers can transition into, grow, or move across roles more easily.

Roles in

High Mobility Roles with Talent Shortages in Charleston

Talent Flows into Accountants and Auditors

This chart shows transition pathways into Accountants and Auditors

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Feeder Roles

Select a role to see its feeder roles

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