Employment, labor force, jobs continue to grow

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People entering the state workforce and the number of people finding jobs increased in February, according the latest report from the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce. Businesses added 9,400 jobs during the month.

The unemployment rate edged up for the fourth consecutive month, from 4.3% in January to 4.4% in February. The state’s labor force increased to 2,324,714 workers, an increase of 3,481.

“Recently, four people living in a homeless shelter in Myrtle Beach graduated from our Back to Work program,” Cheryl Stanton, executive director of the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce, said in a statement. “And since graduating, all four found work. It is exciting to see people enter the labor force and find work so they can take care of themselves and their families.”

Since 2017, the state’s labor force has grown by 19,596 workers, and employment gains totaled 19,954. The level of unemployed people decreased by 358. Seasonally adjusted nonfarm payrolls increased by 9,400 in January to 2,120,300, led by an additional 2,700 jobs in professional and business services. Trade, transportation and utility added 2,200 jobs.

Lee County was the only county in the state to show an increase in unemployment.

In the Midlands, Richland saw a decrease in unemployment from 5% to 4.5%, while unemployment in Lexington fell from 4.2% to 3.9%. In February 2017, Richland’s unemployment rate stood at 4.4% and Lexington’s at 3.8%.

In the Lowcountry, Berkeley’s rate fell from 4.4% to 4% while Dorchester saw unemployment fall from 4.4%. to 4.1%. Charleston County, which had the lowest rate in the state, fell from 4% to 3.7%.

In the Upstate, unemployment fell in Greenville County from 4.3% to 3.9% and in Spartanburg County 4.6% to 4.1%. Anderson County’s unemployment rate fell from 4.7% to 4.3%.