Florence County, South Carolina – Unemployment edged higher across several Pee Dee counties in January, with Florence, Darlington and Marion all recording increases from the previous month, according to data released earlier this month by the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce.
The new figures show a labor market that remains active but uneven, as more people enter or remain in the workforce while some counties continue to carry higher jobless rates than others.
The January report, according to the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce, arrived later than usual because the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics first had to complete its annual revision of national estimates, a process that delayed the release of local numbers.
In Florence County, the unemployment rate rose to 5.9% in January, up from 5.2% in December. Darlington County saw a similar increase, moving from 5.6% in December to 6.3% in January.
Marion County posted the sharpest rise among the three, climbing from 6.9% in December to 8.0% in January. That placed Marion with the fourth-highest unemployment rate among South Carolina’s 46 counties.
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The broader statewide picture also showed movement. South Carolina’s unemployment rate stood at 4.9% in January, while the state’s workforce continued to grow.
“As of January 2026, South Carolina’s workforce grew to 2,516,227 individuals,” S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce Executive Director William Floyd said.
“While we closely monitor unemployment trends (4.9 percent as of January), the state’s labor force, which includes those currently working and those unemployed looking for work, expanded again to a record-setting 2,646,507 during the month, a substantial increase of 62,659 people compared to the same time last year.”
The numbers suggest that more residents are connected to the labor market, either by holding jobs or actively searching for work. At the same time, the county-level increases show that job seekers in some areas may be facing more difficulty than others as the year begins.
Other nearby counties also reported elevated unemployment rates in January. Chesterfield County stood at 6.5%, Clarendon County at 7.8%, Dillon County at 7.1%, Lee County at 7.6% and Sumter County at 6.7%. Williamsburg County recorded the highest unemployment rate in the state at 9.6%.
For Florence, Darlington and Marion counties, the January figures mark a noticeable step upward from December and will likely be watched closely in the months ahead as state officials continue tracking workforce growth, job availability and regional economic conditions.
