South Carolina Jobless Rate Passes 12 Percent

Unemployment in the Palmetto state continues to climb to record highs with a rate of 12.1% for May reported Friday by the Employment Security Commission. That's a seven-tenths of a point climb from the April unemployment rate of 11.4%.

By: Fred Cunningham | News Channel 7
Published: June 19, 2009

Unemployment in the Palmetto state continues to climb to record highs with a rate of 12.1% for May reported Friday by the South Carolina Employment Security Commission» Read Report.

That's a seven-tenths of a point climb from the adjusted April unemployment rate of 11.4%. South Carolina had the third highest jobless rate in the nation that month, trailing only Michigan and Oregon.

The national unemployment rate for the month was 9.4% according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Nearly 16,000 workers lost their jobs in May bringing the total number of unemployed people in South Carolina to 266,196.

There were some gains in workers for some industries. Leisure and hospitality led the gains with an increase of 7,100 jobs reflecting growing tourist activity.

Other industries recording notable gains were financial activities, retail trade and education and health services.

There was also an increase in construction jobs - by more than 1,200 workers - which was the first gain in that field since July, 2008.

However, manufacturing continues to be a drag on South Carolina's overall employment health. Another 2,200 jobs were lost in May pushing the total of manufacturing jobs lost over the past year to 29,000.

Union County continues to have the highest unemployment rate in the Upstate. Union suffered a one point increase to 21.4%, which is tied for the third highest mark in South Carolina.

Here's where other Upstate counties measured for jobless workers in May:

Cherokee - 17.3%
Abbeville - 15.1%
Oconee - 14.5%
Greenwood - 14.0%
Anderson - 12.5%
Spartanburg - 12.3%
Newberry - 12.0%
Laurens - 11.4%
Greenville - 10.2%
Pickens - 10.2%

N.C. Unemployment Rate Climbs To 11.1 Percent In May

North Carolina's unemployment rate increased to 11.1 percent in May.

The figures from the N.C. Employment Security Commission show more than 17,000 workers were added to the 508.834 who are unemployed.

The number of workers who were unemployed, but actively seeking work, is at an all-time high. The number of jobless workers in North Carolina has increased by 242,000 in one year.

The largest increase in workers from april to May was an addition of 2,900 positions in leisure and hospitality. Government and manufacturing saw decreases of nearly 8,000 combined jobs.

Unemployment statistics for individual counties in North Carolina will be released by the N.C. Employment Security Commission on June 26.