COLUMBIA, S.C. — Jasper County’s unemployment rate edged just below the nation’s rate in July, and well below the state.
The county dropped from 8.1 percent to 7.2 percent, while nationally the jobless dropped from 7.6 to 7.4 percent.
Meanwhile, South Carolina’s jobless rate was essentially steady at 8.1 percent from June to July. The number of South Carolinians with employment dropped by 4,084 people to 1,987,699 since June.
Professional and business services added 3,100 jobs, while construction jobs increased by 900. On the losing end, the manufacturing sector shed 1,100 jobs, according to figures released by the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce Monday.
Compared to a year ago, the number of jobs connected to leisure and hospitality is up 11,500, according to a news release from the agency.
As the summer tourism season taper off, neighboring Beaufort County, where Jasper County residents commonly commute for work, are positioned to enjoy a wave of economic activity. That includes construction jobs, depending on when various projects begin.
They include the development of a Pace Healthcare Commons on a parcel with south frontage on Bluffton Parkway, a new BFG office on Buckingham Plantation Drive, and as much as 321,000 square feet of retail shopping space at the corner of SC 46 ad US 278.
Additional commerce may come to the local community because of an estimated $234,000 grant awarded to a county-based group.
This month U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, whose 6th Congressional District includes Jasper County, announced the Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce would act as one of three statewide “navigator” organizations designated to help the public with the Affordable Care Act.
