South Carolina’s unemployment rate rose for the fourth straight month in August, climbing from 10.9 to 11.1 percent. Meanwhile the state’s underemployment rate – a broader, more accurate measure of joblessness – currently stands at 18.3 percent, although that number is expected to increase when new quarterly data is released next month.
The Palmetto state’s unemployment rate is the fourth-highest in the nation, trailing only Nevada, California and Michigan. Also, South Carolina ranks fourth in the nation over the last three years in terms of overpayment of unemployment benefits.
By comparison, the national unemployment rate remained flat at 9.1 percent in August, although the underemployment rate ticked up from 16.1 to 16.2 percent.
Earlier in her administration, S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley rushed to take ownership of modest declines in the Palmetto state’s unemployment rate. In April, Haley held a press conference taking credit for the fact that the state’s unemployment rate had dipped below 10 percent for the first time in more than two years. In fact, she specifically prevented her cabinet agency from releasing the information at the appointed time so that she could fold the data into her media event.
“We are at 9.9 percent,” Haley said at the time. “That is an absolute reason to celebrate and I will tell you that doesn’t happen by accident. I am on the phone every single day with companies – and I will tell you companies want to come.”
In May, when the rate dropped to 9.8 percent, Haley touted the news as “another reason to celebrate what’s happening in South Carolina.”
Haley also publicly bragged about the number of new jobs she was creating – although it was later revealed that she was using manipulated jobs data in an attempt to pad her numbers.
Now that the unemployment rate is rising again, though, Haley has made herself scarce – letting spokesmen for her administration respond to inquiries from the press.
Also, the August jobless data comes amid criticism of Haley’s lavish expenses on a recent “economic development” trip to Paris, France – as well as bizarre comments that she made earlier this month about South Carolina workers applying for jobs at the Savannah River Site, a U.S. Department of Energy facility on the South Carolina-Georgia border.
“Half of them failed a drug test,” Haley said of the SRS workers. “And of the half that was left, of that 50 percent, the other half couldn’t read and write properly.”
A spokesman for the company that manages the SRS site disputed Haley’s claims.
Haley’s office refused to respond to our request for comment regarding the August numbers, although her newly-appointed jobs czar did his best to put a positive spin on the data.
“Although the state’s unemployment rate rose in August, South Carolinians should not be discouraged as we have seen the initial claims for unemployment and the duration of benefits paid decrease,” said SC Department of Employment and Workforce Executive Director Abraham Turner. “We are aware through jobs announcements that businesses are coming to the state; therefore, I have made job training my top priority to ensure South Carolina has a skilled and well-trained workforce to offer those businesses.”
South Carolina’s unemployment rate crossed the 10 percent threshold back in February of 2009 – and stayed there for 25 consecutive months. After a brief dip below that psychological barrier earlier this year, this widely-watched economic indicator climbed above ten percent again four months ago.
The Palmetto state’s dismal economic performance comes after state government has received $4.25 billion in so-called “stimulus” funds over the last three years. It also comes on the heels of a pair of record-setting state budgets (here and here).
Clearly growing government hasn’t grown our state’s economy …
AUGUST 2011 SC UNEMPLOYMENT REPORT (.pdf)
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By Crooner September 16, 2011 at 9:38 am
Congratulations, SC Republicans. You elected a complete and utter idiot Governor. Thank God the legislature didn’t give the office more power.
By snarkycondition September 16, 2011 at 9:39 am
memo to Nikki Haley
Cancel all travel plans.
Shut the Mansion doors to Michelle Bachman.
Put the kids on your staff on notice while you recruit some mature thinkers.
Focus entirely on creating jobs.
Do not waste time with meaningless, misleading stats.
Call in the business community and listen to what they say.
Address their issues.
Stay home and work on recruiting jobs.
Cancel the parties and the travel.
Dial for jobs.
Jobs first. No politics.
You aren’t great until you prove you are.
By cash September 16, 2011 at 9:51 am
Snarky, you would make an awesome governor. A rock star, even. We so want it.
By Nikki's Twitter September 16, 2011 at 9:58 am
Get Excited. I so want to do anal, I so need to do it right now.
By manpreet September 16, 2011 at 9:58 am
I will so build you a home…at a strangely good deal.
By Wallys World September 16, 2011 at 9:59 am
Part time Templeton and Part time Porter could……do something?
By Gillon September 16, 2011 at 10:02 am
The solution to the unemployment problem is simple. We need more tax cuts for the wealthy, but on a state-wide level. Just look how well the “trickle-down” theory has worked on the national level.
By Jack September 16, 2011 at 10:35 am
We need more tax breaks for “job creators”
By Haley needs new handlers September 16, 2011 at 10:58 am
I’m not sure there is anyone actually capable of “handling” Haley(no pun intended), but let’s review:
“That is an absolute reason to celebrate and I will tell you that doesn’t happen by accident.”
What genius let her say those words? Is she so clueless she thought a mere .1% indicated “recovery”.
I mean, I could tell everyone I’m running under the “neonazi” platform in an election and beat her like a drum by just repeating her out words back to her on the campaign trail all day long.
So does that mean she’s going to continue her theme of “doesn’t happen by accident” by admitting she’s done nothing to improve the business/jobs climate here?
LMAO….seriously..speech writers/media handlers heads need to roll.
Then again, if Haley’s not controllable maybe it’s time her handlers simply put her in a straight jacket. If she still opens her piehole maybe a muzzle too.
By BigT September 16, 2011 at 10:59 am
Wow: Funny, SC’s – and the NATION’s – unemployment rate has escalated since Barack Obama was elected.
And it will not get better until Americans are secure in the idea Obama will be de-elected.
PS: Why hasn’t FITS posted anything on NY 9. This is a pseudo political site. That was the BIGGEST political development in the last Decade, other than the DISASTER that the election of 2008 wrought.
By HoneyDo September 16, 2011 at 11:08 am
OK, here is the real deal…..of those unemployed, MANY of them have LENGTHY arrest records, many of them are drug or alcohol abusers, many of them are NEARLY illiterate, many have no high school diploma or GED, so lets not even talk about college. It is EXTREMELY difficult or should I say, nearly impossible for the staff working in the local SCDEW offices to convince employers to hire these people. Now, I must add to that by also saying that in the mess our economy is in now, there are also MANY good, qualified people looking for work as well who are also having a difficult time BUT, that is to no fault of their own. I don’t blame employers for not wanting to hire criminals, those with drug or alcohol addiction or those with little to no education. You are a liability to them and if they hire you and you don’t work out, they will most likely be penalized for “letting you go.” Our system is so screwed up but until we taxpayers and employers stand up and demand change, we can expect NOTHING to change. Billions of dollars is thrown at programs like WIA which, if you really track their success,that number would be very low. You can’t help those who don’t or won’t help themselves. Until we realize this as a society we should expect nothing to change. Throwing money at programs and/or people is not going to make one little difference. Making people accountable for themselves may…how about we try that for a change? We have become nothing more than a nation of enablers……
By norman September 16, 2011 at 11:09 am
We never recovered from the textile loss which was in many small community’s. The GA was being controlled by the crowd in the Senate who fought to keep business out. We need more factory generators like what has grown up around BMW and could happen with Boeing. Hell we had a recent demo. Gov. who though a call center was a big deal. Our neighboring states have given the deals that have made there employment grow. We need a team with the Gov and GA movers to work on the deals. Instead what we have is a bunch of petty politicians wanting to run the state.
By Alabaster II September 16, 2011 at 11:10 am
Just read the Huff-Post’s list of 10 poorest states in USA, SC is number 7 on the list. Not as bad as it is, but could be better. All of you guys have to get together and ask what you can do for SC, not what SC can do for you till you get out of the slump.
By Crooner September 16, 2011 at 11:28 am
Big T:
NY 9 was a jewish thing. You wouldn’t understand.
By HHI Style September 16, 2011 at 11:34 am
Great work Haley, not try to kill another business like you tried to kill Amazon.
By cash September 16, 2011 at 12:07 pm
This woman is a walking talking cluster.
By Skidmarks September 16, 2011 at 12:24 pm
Vishnu, Krishna, Kali, and all the rest bless this little Nimrata Coconut Head.
By Ed September 16, 2011 at 4:58 pm
Now that I think about it….Joe Wilson was going to create jobs for us in SC. Where is Joe means Jobs Wilson? Come on Joe!
By BigT September 16, 2011 at 5:58 pm
Crooner: you people are more stupid than even I thought, if you’re buying that one…And that’s hard to be…
But don’t let me stop you. If you think Obama’s doing a great job and er’body loves him…more power to ya!