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S.C. unemployment drops to 3.2% in August

Staff Report //September 20, 2019//

S.C. unemployment drops to 3.2% in August

Staff Report //September 20, 2019//

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South Carolina’s unemployment rate fell to 3.2% in August, down from 3.4% in July.

The S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce estimated the number of South Carolinians working jumped to a record of 2,304,835, an increase of 7,277 people from July and 57,776 people from August 2018.  

State unemployment estimates decreased to 77,256, a decrease of 4,514 people since July and an increase of 1,819 from August 2018. South Carolina’s labor force, or people working plus unemployed people looking for work, increased to 2,382,091, marking the eighth consecutive month of growth.

Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.7%.

Statewide construction jobs saw an increase of 1,800 workers in August, while education and health grew by 1,500. Manufacturing jobs dropped by 1,700 and trade, transportation and utilities jobs by 900.

Unemployment fell in every S.C. county except Orangeburg, where it inched up to 5.5% in August from 5.3% in July. In Richland County, unemployment dipped to 2.9% in August from 3.2% in July and 3.7% in August 2018. Lexington County saw a drop from 3% in August 2018 and 2.7% in July to 2.4% in August.

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