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S.C. unemployment falls to 6.3% in August

Staff Report //September 18, 2020//

S.C. unemployment falls to 6.3% in August

Staff Report //September 18, 2020//

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South Carolina’s unemployment rate dropped to 6.3% in August from July’s revised estimate of 8.7%.

The estimated number of South Carolinians working increasing by more than 18,500 people from July, according to the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce. The 2,264,535 estimated workers represented an increase of 18,532 from July, though it was 52,248 less than August 2019.

Unemployment estimates declined to 152,936, a drop of 59,966 since July but a 92,796 increase from August 2019.

Nationally, the unemployment rate dropped to 8.4% in August from 10.2% in July.

South Carolina’s estimated labor force, or people working plus unemployed people looking for work, decreased by 41,434 from July to 2,417,471. That’s 40,458 more than August 2019.

Government industries reported a gain of 10,900, while professional and business services saw a 5,300 gain. The leisure and hospitality industry gained 2,800 workers, while education and health services saw a drop of 4,000.

From August 2019 to August 2020, construction reported a 1,200 gain, while leisure and hospitality saw a drop of 55,800.

Unemployment dropped from July to August in every S.C. county. In Richland County, unemployment fell to 6.8% in August from 8.7% in July, while Lexington County saw a drop to 4.7% from 6.3%. In August 2019, unemployment stood at 2.8% in Richland County and 2.3% in Lexington County.

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