Outlook: South Carolina Economy to Improve Slowly in 2011

The South Carolina economy improved in 2010 and will continue to recover in 2011 with better job growth.

But the improvement next year will happen slowly.

Job growth is expected to increase to 1.2 percent in 2011 from 0.1 percent growth in 2010, according to the forecast from two University of South Carolina economists at the Darla Moore School of Business‘ annual Economic Outlook Conference.

Dr. Doug Woodward and Dr. Joey Von Nessen, economists in the Moore School’s Division of Research, told business and government leaders who attended the event that they expect higher rates of job growth in 2011, primarily from the service sector, but also with Boeing and other manufacturers.

Personal income, which Von Nessen called a “good measure of overall economic activity,” should grow 4.8 percent over the next year.

Retail sales also should improve.

“We’ve seen consumer confidence perk up this year, which will hopefully translate into higher retail sales during the holiday season,” Von Nessen said. “We’re off to a good start. Black Friday sales were up from last year. This should be the best season since the Great Recession began three years ago.”

Von Nessen said the accelerated economic activity will slowly help reduce South Carolina’s high unemployment rate, which is at 10.7 percent.

“Construction and manufacturing have been hit the hardest in terms of long-term employment losses, and there aren’t many other job sectors right now that are in high demand,” he said. “Boeing will open in North Charleston and boost manufacturing payrolls. Other modest gains should be found in autos and other durable goods producing industries.”

Construction activity is expected to drop slightly in early 2011 and then finally rebound to a 3.7-percent growth rate later in the year, though from a low base.

“We’ve seen good things happen in 2010: a thriving stock market and a dramatic fall in new unemployment claims,” Von Nessen said. “If these trends continue, and business confidence is restored, employers who have been putting off hiring because of economic uncertainty will finally act. This will spur further growth.”

The Moore School said its EOC 2010 forecast presented last year proved to be accurate.

“Relative to other economic forecasts for South Carolina last year, ours was the most optimistic for 2010,” Von Nessen said. “We were pleased that the state did as well as our outlook suggested.”

Last year, the Moore School economists at the EOC predicted an average 11.2 percent unemployment rate, 0.2 percent growth in employment and 3.3 percent growth in personal income for South Carolina for 2010. The actual figures were 11.3 percent, 0.1 percent and 3.4 percent, respectively.

The daylong conference included a panel on small business and the economic recovery. The conference featured a keynote address by Dr. Zoltan Acs, chief economist at the U.S. Small Business Administration and a professor at George Mason University, where he is the director of the school’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Public Policy.

South Carolina Communities at a Glance

• In 2010 employment varied considerably in different metropolitan areas across the state (through October 2010, compared with employment activity through October 2009). Anderson (-1.2 percent) and Sumter (-0.6) had the largest losses, though they were much smaller than last year. The greatest gains were made in Charleston (1.9), Myrtle Beach (4.7) and Florence (2.4). Columbia (-0.1), Greenville (0.8) and Spartanburg (0.0) and Aiken/Augusta (+0.6) had very little movement in employment over the last year.
• Retail sales were up in every metropolitan area for the first nine months of 2010 compared to the first nine months of 2009. The greatest gains were made in Anderson (15 percent), Greenville (14) and Charleston (13), Aiken (9), followed by Florence (8), Sumter (7), Myrtle Beach (6), Spartanburg (6) and Columbia (1).
• Parts of South Carolina experienced increases in residential building permit activity over the last year. Comparing single-family building permits issued through September 2010 with similar figures through September 2009, Anderson (5.2 percent) and Columbia (3.3) show the greatest gains, while Sumter (-21.4), Aiken/Augusta (-13.9) and Spartanburg (-4.9) show the greatest declines. Other areas of the state showed more modest changes: Florence (1.2), Charleston (0.9),Greenville (-2.0) and Myrtle Beach (-0.3).
• In October 2010, unemployment rates were slightly lower in all metropolitan areas relative to October 2009. The biggest declines were in Anderson (-2.3 percent), Greenville (-1.8) and Spartanburg (-1.9). The smallest declines were in Columbia (-0.9) Aiken/Augusta (-0.8) and Myrtle Beach (-1.0).

Source: University of South Carolina

Topics Trends South Carolina