Expert Predicts No change in SC Unemployment Rate

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - South Carolina’s jobless rate in September is set to be released as lawmakers prepare for a special session to deal with emergency unemployment benefits.
    Coastal Carolina University economist Don Schunk says he expects the figure released Wednesday by the Employment Security Commission will be about the same as August’s 11.5 percent. That figure was the sixth-highest in the country.
    The release comes as lawmakers prepare to return to the Capitol next week for debate that could provide some relief available to thousands of out-of-work residents.
    Officials say nearly 7,000 South Carolinians failed to get seven weeks of emergency jobless benefits because legislators had not tied the checks to the state’s unemployment rate instead of to the number of people receiving unemployment.

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