More People working in OC than ever

More people are working in Oconee County than ever before in the county’s history. Recent figures from the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce lists Oconee County’s unemployment rate at 5.8%. Oconee Economic Alliance executive director Richard Blackwell was very pleased with the March report. “We are tremendously excited to see the unemployment rate dip below the statewide average, below some of our neighbors and it’s also below year to date, its trending downward, so that is very exciting to see. But the biggest thing that I’m excited about is that we have more people working in Oconee County today than ever before. So as an economic development practioner that is what you want to see; you want to see the people in your community working, having jobs and having the ability to make a better way of life for themselves.” The number of people participating in Oconee County’s labor market is at an all-time high of 32,768. Year to year, the Golden Corner of South Carolina lists unemployment at 5.8% for 2015 versus 5.9% in 2014. Oconee County’s jobless rate of 5.8% is also below neighboring Pickens County at 6%.