Unemployment Reaches 11.4 in SC; Union County's 20% Percent Highest in Upstate

The number of jobless workers in March in the Palmetto state reached the highest rate ever recorded in 26 years. Nearly 7,000 jobs were gained, but the rate climbed to over 11 percent.

The South Carolina Employment Security Commission reports the unemployment rate grew to 11.4% from the adjusted figure of 10.9% for February.

Nearly 7,000 jobs were gained in March, mainly in the leisure and hospitality plus retail trade fields.

The SCESC reports overall the state labor force dropped slightly to 2,185,451 while the number of unemployed jumped 10,221 to reach a record high of 248,578.

The agency reports manufacturing and construction lost 2,900 and 1,600 jobs, respectively in March. The SCESC believes this is a "vivid reminder that the recession is not over. "
South Carolina's overall job count is more than 94,000 below this time in 2008.

Unemployment in Union County rose to 20%, which is up half a percentage point from February. That's the highest figure among Upstate counties.

Here's where other Upstate counties stand in March with their ranking among South Carolina's 46 counties noted:

(3) Union 20.0%
(12) Cherokee 16.4%
(18) Oconee 14.3%
(19) Abbeville 14.0%
(23) Greenwood 13.0%
(28) Newberry 12.2%
(29) Anderson 11.9%
(30) Spartanburg 11.6%
(33) Laurens 10.9%
(t37) Pickens 9.9%
(40) Greenville 9.6%

The Federal Reserve's Beige Book - which publishes regular updates on economic activity throughout the country - noted some anecdotal observations about the situation in South Carolina.

The report for the Richmond, VA district - which includes the Carolinas - says a manufacturer of automotive components in South Carolina there has been a "catastrophic" reduction in orders due to widespread decline in industry demand.

Commercial real estate markets remained soft in recent weeks, although contacts in Greenville, Columbia and Charleston reported slight upticks in leasing activity.

An analyst from Myrtle Beach reports the tourism booking cycle indicated that many hotels were offering double-digit discounts for summer business.

NC's March unemployment hits record 10.8 percent

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Unemployment in North Carolina hit a record high in March, inching up to 10.8 percent as more than 10,000 jobs were cut through white-collar layoffs.

The state Employment Security Commission said Friday the March jobless rate increased from 10.7 percent in February. That makes the March figure the highest on record since the state started its current measuring method in the mid-1970s.

Since this time last year, unemployment has increased by more than 248,000 people. More than 41,000 workers lost their jobs in March.

The country's jobless rate was 8.5 percent last month.

Layoffs continued to sweep through North Carolina's manufacturing and construction industries, while 10,000 jobs were cut in professional and businesses services.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)