S.C. unemployment falls again in July to 3.4%

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South Carolina's unemployment rate for July fell to 3.4%, down from 3.5% in June, while the number of people working in the state reached a record 2,297,651.

An additional 1,750 people found jobs in July, an increase of 5,602 from July 2018, according to the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce. Unemployment estimates fell to 81,750 people.

The number of working S.C. residents represented an increase of 6,484 people since June and 54,179 since July 2018.

The national unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.7%.

The state’s estimated labor force, which includes people working plus unemployed people looking for work, increased to 2,379,401, an upward trend for seven straight months.

Manufacturing, trade, transportation and utilities, and education and health services categories saw the most growth in the month, with more than 1,000 jobs added in each category. Decreases were seen in government, construction, and professional and business services.

Unemployment dipped in every county in the state. In Richland County, the unemployment rate fell to 3.2%, down from 3.6% in June and from 3.7% in July 2018. The Lexington County unemployment rate fell to 2.7% in July, down from 3% in June and 3% in July 2018.

Bamberg County has the state’s highest unemployment rate at 6.5%, down from 7.3% in June and 6.7% in July 2018.