By FITSNews || South Carolina’s unemployment rate edged downward in April, according to data released last week by the newly-created S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce.
South Carolina’s rate – which is currently the sixth highest in the nation – fell from 12.2 percent to 11.6 percent, although the biggest job gains were seasonal and the state’s labor force actually shrunk by 6,200 positions from last month. South Carolina’s “underemployment” rate – which includes eligible workers who have grown so depressed with the job market that they have given up searching for work – was measured at 19.7 percent for the first quarter of 2010.
Nationally, the unemployment rate rose in April from 9.7 to 9.9 percent, while the “underemployment” rate also rose – from 16.9 to 17.1 percent.
So … should South Carolinians celebrate the fact that our state’s rate is moving in the right direction?
Not yet. In addition to seasonal job growth tied to the state’s tourism industry, government jobs (i.e. jobs taxpayers directly subsidize) were up yet again – by 2,000 from last month and by 6,000 from last year. That’s the latest evidence of an ongoing trend we have seen in South Carolina throughout the national recession.
Bottom line? We have yet to see any indication that the fundamentals of sustained economic growth are taking hold nationally or in the Palmetto state – this despite an unprecedented infusion of new (borrowed) money into the economy.
WEB EXTRA
April 2010 S.C. Unemployment Report
By Big Dave May 24, 2010 at 10:22 pm
I’m glad everyone is concerned about who is sleeping with whom. I’m just glad that my cousin got a dang job!
By Old Sarge May 27, 2010 at 3:01 pm
I wish we could all get an unemployment check:)