S.C. unemployment continues to fall

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Unemployment dropped to 4% in May from 4.2% in April as the number of unemployed people fell by 5,431 to 92,498.

Employment numbers declined by 224 to 2,225,431, the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce said Friday.

The state’s seasonally adjusted labor force has grown by 9,202 people since May 2017, with employment gains totaling 13,845.

Nationally, the unemployment rate dropped to 3.8% from 3.9% in April.

Trade, transportation and utilities jobs in South Carolina saw the most growth with 2,100. Health and Education Services grew by 1,000. Leisure and hospitality jobs saw a drop of 1,000.

DEW executive director Cheryl Stanton said it is imperative to look for opportunities to educate, train and prepare the state’s workforce to meet job demand.

“The State Workforce Development Board is awarding grants for the development and use of innovative workforce, education and training practices to support jobseekers,” Stanton said in a statement. “It is this type of preparation and partnership that will help individuals find employment and succeed in the workforce and provide employers with the talent pipeline they need to compete in the global economy.”

In Richland County, unemployment rose to 2.9% in May from 2.8% in April. Lexington County saw no change from April to May, with unemployment remaining at 2.4%. Both numbers are lower than May 2017, when Richland County unemployment was at 3.8% and Lexington was at 3.2%.