| Labor Force | Q3 – 2025 | Q3 – 2015 | # Growth | % Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington County, SC | 158,487 | 142,833 | 15,654 | 11% |
| Columbia, SC, MSA | 429,946 | 391,030 | 38,916 | 10% |
| South Carolina (SC) | 2,582,851 | 2,241,281 | 341,570 | 15% |
| USA | 171,248,000 | 156,733,000 | 14,515,000 | 9% |
Within the past decade, the County of Lexington's Civilian Labor Force grew by more than 15%, adding nearly 20,000 workers, exceeding that of the Columbia MSA and South Carolina, as well as double the national growth rate.
Civilian Labor Force
This chart shows total labor force trends over the past ten years for the selected geography. Data is sourced from the Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis (FRED) database and reflect the most recently published values available.
Employment
| Employment | Q3 – 2025 | Q3 – 2015 | # Growth | % Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington County, SC | 152,251 | 136,431 | 15,820 | 12% |
| Columbia, SC, MSA | 411,264 | 371,415 | 39,849 | 11% |
| South Carolina (SC) | 2,468,922 | 2,116,812 | 352,110 | 17% |
| USA | 163,345,000 | 148,826,000 | 14,519,000 | 10% |
This chart shows total employment trends over the past ten years for the selected geography. Data is sourced from the Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis (FRED) database and reflect the most recently published values available.
Unemployment
| Unemployment | Q3 – 2025 | Q3 – 2015 | # Growth | % Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington County, SC | 6,236 | 6,402 | (166) | -3% |
| Columbia, SC, MSA | 18,682 | 19,615 | (933) | -5% |
| South Carolina (SC) | 117,592 | 119,749 | (2,157) | -2% |
| USA | 7,603,000 | 7,907,000 | (304,000) | -4% |
This chart shows total unemployment trends over the past ten years for the selected geography. Data is sourced from the Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis (FRED) database and reflect the most recently published values available.
Largest Concentration of Industry in Lexington County
| Industry |
Total Establishments
|
Total Employment
|
Median Hourly Wage
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Total, All Industries |
10,723
|
114,895
|
$17.82
|
| Accommodation and Food Services |
757
|
11,901
|
$9.50
|
| Administrative and Waste Services |
470
|
3,436
|
$11.99
|
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting |
67
|
634
|
$14.25
|
| Arts, Sports, Entertainment and Recreation |
176
|
1,298
|
$20.86
|
| Construction |
954
|
6,375
|
$19.36
|
| Education |
252
|
8,662
|
$24.70
|
| Banking, Finance and Insurance |
665
|
3,497
|
$29.28
|
| Health Care and Social Services |
952
|
18,689
|
$29.85
|
| Information |
148
|
1,531
|
$33.25
|
| Management of Companies and Enterprises |
17
|
191
|
$47.21
|
| Manufacturing |
331
|
7,532
|
$18.01
|
| Mineral, Oil and Gas Extraction |
7
|
98
|
$19.36
|
| Other Services, Except Public Administration |
1,502
|
8,088
|
$12.25
|
| Professional and Technical Services |
989
|
6,930
|
$34.59
|
| Public Administration |
308
|
6,435
|
$16.76
|
| Real Estate and Rentals |
500
|
2,477
|
$36.69
|
| Retail Trade |
1,673
|
17,918
|
$12.99
|
| Transportation and Warehousing |
214
|
2,927
|
$14.25
|
| Utilities |
15
|
314
|
$22.40
|
| Wholesale Trade |
327
|
5,905
|
$12.99
|
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, SC Dept. of Employment & Workforce, Q1, 2023
Top Employers in Lexington County
| Company Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Lexington Medical Center | Health care and general hospital |
| Dominion Energy | Electric & gas utility |
| Amazon.com Fulfillment Center | Distribution center – online retail |
| Michelin North America Inc. (US #5) | Passenger tire manufacturing |
| UPS | UPS ground hub & customer service center |
| Nephron Pharmaceuticals | Generic respiratory medications and blow-fill-seal contract manufacturing, global HQ |
| HireRight | Employee background checks & talent acquisition services |
| Walter P Rawl & Sons Inc. | Vegetables, leafy greens |
| Southeastern Freight Lines, Inc. | LTL Services & Corporate HQ |
| Michelin North America Inc. (US #7) | Extra-large Earthmover tire manufacturing |
| DHL Global Forwarding | Logistics services, freight transportation |
| US Foods | Food distributor & food service supplier |
| House of Raeford | Production of fresh chicken |
| Apex Tool Group | Electric & pneumatic tools manufacturing, headquarters (division) |
| CMC Steel South Carolina | Steel rounds, squares, angles, flats and channels manufacturing |
Central SC Records and Reference USA Database
