Charleston is a national top performer for job growth. In December 2023, the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro led the RealPage top 150 markets in 12-month percent change in employment with 6% annual growth, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Charleston is the third-largest metropolitan area in South Carolina but one of the most dynamic in terms of growth and diversity. Industry growth in the past year was led by the Professional & Business Services sector, primarily the Administrative and Support Services subsector (which includes temporary workers). The Leisure & Hospitality sector’s strong growth reflects the region’s attraction to tourists while the Education & Health Services, Other Services and Manufacturing industries also contributed to Charleston’s growth in 2023. Charleston has a combination of slow and steady employment (Joint Base Charleston and other government and education employment) and fast-growing industries (high-tech, aircraft and automobile manufacturing) that provides this Southeast seaport with the infrastructure to continue to be one of the national leaders for growth going forward.
