COLUMBIA, S.C. — Beaufort and Jasper counties experienced small increases in unemployment from February to March, while the state as a whole saw its jobless rate dip slightly to 5.5 percent.
The last time the state’s rate was at this level was in March 2008, according to the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce, which released figures today.
Since March of last year, jobs were up 39,400 overall with the most sizable increases in leisure and hospitality, which added 11,400 jobs followed by professional and business services, with 8,000, and gain of 6,000 jobs in trade, transportation and utilities.
Although Beaufort and Jasper saw minor increases in their jobless rates, as usual, they remain below the state level. From February to March of this year, Beaufort County’s unemployment rate increased from 4.6 percent to 4.8 percent, while Jasper County’s rate grew from 4.5 percent to 4.7.
“South Carolina has seen 10 consecutive months of a declining unemployment rate. The state’s economy is on the right track,” Cheryl Stanton, the agency’s executive director, said in a statement.
“More South Carolinians are working now than ever before. Businesses and workforce partners continue to work every day to make sure we get every South Carolinian back to work.”
The nation’s rate has been consistently better than South Carolina’s unemployment rate, but in March, the country’s overall rate was unchanged at 6.7 percent.