Employment Situation – April 2026
South Carolina’s workforce continued to grow in April, with the number of employed residents increasing to more than 2.54 million, up 7,449 from March and more than 56,000 higher than a year ago.
The state’s labor force also expanded, reaching 2.67 million people. Labor force participation rose to 59.0%, reflecting continued growth in the number of South Carolinians either working or actively seeking employment.
At the same time, the number of unemployed residents declined by 3,296 from March to 128,013. South Carolina’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate improved slightly to 4.8%, while the national unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.3%.
Click here to see the Department of Employment and Workforce’s complete report.
South Carolina Department of Environmental Services – Proposed Regulation
On May 22, 2026, the Department of Environmental Services published a Notice of Proposed Regulation in the South Carolina State Register, amending Regulation 61-62, Air Pollution Control Regulations and Standards.
The Department is proposing updates to several South Carolina air quality regulations to match recent federal EPA rule changes. These updates would:
- Adopt federal air pollution rule changes issued during 2025 for industrial facilities and hazardous air pollutants.
- Update hazardous air pollutant standards based on federal changes issued in late 2024.
- Revise regulations for oil and natural gas facilities, including rules covering: existing facilities, newer facilities built after 2011 and 2015, and facilities built after December 6, 2022.
- Add new standards related to greenhouse gas emissions from existing oil and natural gas operations.
Please contact Scott Bigleman at scott.bigleman@des.sc.gov if you have any questions.
South Carolina Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) Grant Program - Request for Proposals
The Department of Environmental Services invites universities, private organizations, businesses, and any county, city, or other local government entities in South Carolina to submit applications for the South Carolina State DERA grant program.
The total funding available for this grant program is approximately $408,000. Entities should submit applications by June 12, 2026, for primary consideration. Applications received after this deadline may be considered as funding is available.
Please contact the DERA grant team at DERA@des.sc.gov if you have any questions while preparing your application. Previous projects funded through South Carolina’s State DERA grant program can be viewed on the SCDES DERA webpage.
Ports Authority Begins Construction on North Charleston ro-ro operations
The South Carolina Ports Authority is moving forward with a major expansion of roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) operations at the North Charleston Terminal, with construction now underway following design approval earlier this month. The new terminal is expected to begin operating in 2027 and reach full completion in 2028.
The project will increase cargo and container capacity at the Port of Charleston and strengthen support for South Carolina’s automotive and advanced manufacturing industries. Ro-ro terminals handle wheeled cargo such as vehicles and heavy equipment, allowing cargo to be driven directly on and off ships rather than lifted by cranes.
The Ports Authority is developing the terminal on the site of a former paper mill acquired in 2024. The expansion will also leverage existing rail infrastructure through a partnership with Palmetto Railways, which will provide rail cargo handling and switching services to improve efficiency and future growth capacity.
Port officials say the investment reflects growing demand from manufacturers that rely on the Port of Charleston for supply chain operations. The port already handles more than 250,000 vehicles annually through its existing ro-ro and breakbulk operations, while South Carolina accounts for 18% of U.S. completed passenger vehicle export sales.
South Carolina Damage Prevention Act – IN EFFECT!
The South Carolina Damage Prevention Act is now effective! These changes affect how tickets are submitted, how emergencies are handled, and how compliance is enforced.
Key updates include:
• Large Project Tickets – new requirements for marking, notification, and
coordination
• New & Updated Definitions – clarification of terminology that may impact daily
operations
• Enforcement Penalties – updated consequences for non-compliance
• Emergency Ticket Changes – revised procedures for urgent or time-sensitive work
To support implementation of these updates, South Carolina 811 developed a suite of resources to help organizations understand and apply the new requirements effectively.
Available resources include:
• Comparison Sheet – side-by-side overview of what is changing
• Summary Sheet – concise breakdown of key updates
• Law Breakdown – detailed explanation of the revised provisions
• Full Updated Law – complete legal text
• All Law Resources – centralized access to materials and guidance
In addition, South Carolina 811 is offering training sessions and webinars to walk through the changes in detail and answer questions.
Request Training from South Carolina 811 →
View Law Resources →