9:20 am on Saturday March 26, 2011
| Posted by Ken Hawkins
S.C.'s unemployment numbers still high, but still improving
While still stuck above a sour 10% rate, South Carolina's unemployment rate bettered once again.
February's unemployment for S.C. was 10.2%, compared with January's 10.5%.
The state has seen employment rise by approximately 18,100 to an estimated level of 1,935,449, and it is estimated there are approximately 218,940 unemployed people in the state, a decrease of approximately 33,000 from a year ago.
Notable growth sectors were:
- Leisure and Hospitality: 4,600
- Professional and Business Services: 4,500
- Education and Health Services: 4,000
- Construction: 2,500 (first increase since October 2010)
- Retail Trade: 1,500
- Manufacturing: 900
- Government: 2,200
County-level data is scheduled for release on April 6, but last month the Charleston area was at 8.1%. The national rate is at 8.9%.