Columbia area among state's leaders in best measure of economic progress: total employment growth

[Charlestondata]

While the job growth percentage is coming in slightly lower in the Columbia MSA than in Charleston's for the year, the number of jobs gained in the Columbia MSA was the highest in the state from September '12 to October '12 and from October '11 to October '12.

http://dew.sc.gov/documents/lmi-mont...tober_2012.pdf

http://dew.sc.gov/documents/lmi-mont..._Statement.pdf

[Charlestondata]

The Columbia metro area has outperformed the nation in employment growth from 2011 to 2012, but it has lagged in GDP growth per capita. Employment growth has been 1.9% while GDP growth per capita has been only 0.8%. During that time the metro area has performed in the middle quintile, moving up to #126 compared to #250 from 2007 to 2011 and #184 from 1993 to 2007. For some reason, Columbia is the only South Carolina metro on the attached interactive map, but I know that according to the state's monthly employment reports, the Columbia metro has added the most jobs in the state from 2011 to 2012. I don't know how it stacks up with its in-state peers in GDP growth per capita.

Global MetroMonitor | Brookings Institution