Best In South Carolina Real Estate™: Charleston

Charleston-North Charleston, SC ranks #5 of 8 South Carolina metros on 12-month change in the metropolitan unemployment rate, with a -0.5% shift in August 2026. This is not a sign of weakness, but a signal that labor market momentum is stabilizing faster than in other SC metros. What does this mean for real estate? It suggests a temporary pause in relocation-driven demand, with supply finally catching up. For buyers, it's a rare window to enter before the next cycle. For investors, it’s a moment to assess inventory dynamics before the next surge. This data comes directly from ALEX Intelligence’s analysis of BLS data, published October 26, 2026. 12-month change in the metropolitan unemployment rate (August 2026), top 8 (ALEX Intelligence — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2026) #1 Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC — -0.6% #2 Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC — -0.6% #3 Spartanburg, SC — -0.6% #4 Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC — -0.5% #5 Charleston-North Charleston, SC — -0.5% #6 Florence, SC — -0.5% #7 Columbia, SC — -0.4% #8 Sumter, SC — -0.4% Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Slide 1: Warren LeMay from Covington, KY, United States (CC0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=97073865; Slide 2: RJ Matthews (CC BY-SA 3.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=56050119; Slide 3: Ted Kerwin (CC BY 2.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=97596358; Slide 4: w_lemay (CC BY-SA 2.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=129598313 Source: https://alex-companies.com/data/2026-10-26-charleston-sc-lab-bls-unemp-rate-chg-12m-msa View and join any or all of our communities — AI, quantum, and real estate: https://alex-companies.com/reports/linkedin-groups If there's an AI, quantum, or real estate community you'd like to see us convene, tell us — this portfolio grows by request. Real Estate Strategy & Intelligence Leader. Democratized Blue Ocean Strategist & Operator. Diane Hart Alexander, MBA, MHA Chair & CEO, ALEX Companies Designated Broker, Alexander Tiffany Southwest, LLC dba ALEX.realestate, et.al. Texas License #574877-B · Broker License #565194-BB [email protected] · +1 713.591.9902