Labor Force Expansion continues in SC

The number of working South Carolinians reached another historic high to an estimated 2,109,984 people with 65,006 people finding work since May 2014. The South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce reports that the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose slightly to 6.8% in May from 6.7% in April. “I’m encouraged that 65,000 more South Carolinians are working today than a year ago. The state’s economy continues to flourish, illustrated by 66 consecutive months of employment growth,” said South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce executive director Cheryl Stanton. In the tri-county area of Upstate South Carolina, Oconee County’s jobless figure rose to 6.3% in May from 5.7% in April. Pickens County posted 6.3% in May, also up from 5.8% in April. Anderson County’s unemployment increased to 6.1% in May from 5.5% in April. Nationally, the unemployment rate increased to 5.5% in May from 5.4% in April.