Columbia Area Economic Summary
Updated May 31, 2017
This summary presents a sampling of economic information for the area; supplemental data are provided for regions
and the nation. Subjects include unemployment, employment, wages, prices, spending, and benefits. All data are
not seasonally adjusted and some may be subject to revision. Area definitions may differ by subject. For more area
summaries and geographic definitions, see www.bls.gov/regions/economic-summaries.htm.
Unemployment rates for the Columbia area,
selected area counties, and the nation
Average weekly wages for all industries by county
Columbia area, 3rd quarter 2016
(U.S. = $1,027; Area = $858)
Unemployment rates
4.7
United States
4.1
4.4
Columbia area
3.4
6.9
Fairfield Co.
5.0
4.9
Kershaw Co.
3.9
3.9
Lexington Co.
3.0
4.5
Richland Co.
0.0
3.5
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
Apr-16
Apr-17
Source: U.S. BLS, Local Area Unemployment Statistics.
Source: U.S. BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.
Over-the-year changes in employment on nonfarm payrolls and employment by major industry sector
12-month percent changes in employment
Percent
4.0
3.5
Columbia area
United States
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
-0.5
Apr-14
Apr-15
Apr-16
Source: U.S. BLS, Current Employment Statistics.
Apr-17
Columbia area employment
(numbers in thousands)
Total nonfarm
Mining, logging, and construction
Manufacturing
Trade, transportation, and utilities
Information
Financial activities
Professional and business services
Education and health services
Leisure and hospitality
Other services
Government
Change from Apr.
Apr. 2017
2016 to Apr. 2017
Number
Percent
4.4
1.2
1.2
1.7
0.0
0.7
-0.5
0.5
-1.5
-0.2
1.3
1.1
7.5
3.9
2.3
0.0
2.3
-1.0
1.0
-3.9
-1.2
1.5
397.6
17.3
31.8
74.7
5.6
30.8
48.3
48.8
36.8
16.3
87.2
Source: U.S. BLS, Current Employment Statistics.
• www.bls.gov/ro6
Over-the-year changes in the selling prices received by
producers for selected industries nationwide
Over-the-year change in the prices paid by urban
consumers for selected categories
12-month percent change in CPI-U, April 2017
12.0
South region
U.S. city average
10.0
10.1
Percent
4.0
9.3
12-month percent changes in PPI
2.0
8.0
0.0
6.0
4.0
2.0
0.0
2.0
-2.0
2.2
0.2
All Items
0.5
Food
General freight trucking
Hospitals
Insurance carriers
-4.0
Energy
-6.0
Apr-14
Source: U.S. BLS, Consumer Price Index.
Average annual spending and percent distribution for
selected categories
South Region average annual expenditures 2015
Apr-15
Housing
$16,518
31.8%
Healthcare
$4,264
8.2%
Personal
insurance &
pensions
$5,608
10.8%
Food
$6,613
12.7%
Transportation
$9,598
18.5%
Total:
$52,020
Source: U.S. BLS, Consumer Expenditure Survey.
Employer costs per hour worked for wages and
selected employee benefits by geographic division
Private industry, December
2016
Total compensation
Wages and salaries
Total benefits
Paid leave
Vacation
Supplemental pay
Insurance
Retirement and savings
Legally required benefits
South Atlantic
(1)
$30.90
21.81
9.09
2.23
1.15
0.83
2.44
1.28
2.31
(1) South Atlantic includes DC, DE, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, and WV.
Source: U.S. BLS, Employer Costs for Employee Compensation.
United
States
$32.76
22.83
9.93
2.28
1.17
1.15
2.63
1.31
2.56
Apr-17
Average hourly wages for selected occupations
Occupation
All other
$9,419
18.1%
Apr-16
Source: U.S. BLS, Producer Price Index.
Columbia
area
United
States
Total, all occupations
$20.78
$23.86
Financial managers
57.86
67.17
Lawyers
47.80
67.25
Computer programmers
37.95
40.95
Registered nurses
29.33
34.70
Accountants and auditors
27.65
36.89
Billing and posting clerks
Insurance claims and policy processing
clerks
16.46
18.06
15.62
19.61
Security guards
14.85
14.29
Construction laborers
14.53
18.22
Retail salespersons
11.62
13.07
8.58
9.89
Cooks, fast food
Source: U.S. BLS, Occupational Employment Statistics, May 2016.
Over-the-year changes in wages and salaries
Percent
3.0
12-month percent changes in ECI
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
Mar-14
South Atlantic
Mar-15
Source: U.S. BLS, Employment Cost Index.
Southeast Information Office • [email protected] • https://www.bls.gov/regions/southeast • 404-893-4222
United States
Mar-16
Mar-17