South Carolina’s labor participation rate – or the percentage of the state’s working age population either employed or actively searching for a job – slid to another record low in March.
According to data obtained by FITS from the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce (SCDEW), this critical indicator fell from 58.6 percent in February to 58.5 percent in March. That’s its lowest level ever – and puts the Palmetto State nearly five full percentage points below the national labor participation rate, which currently stands at a 34-year-low of 63.3 percent.
That’s terrible, people …
Labor participation under S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley peaked at 60.9 percent in June 2011 but has been falling precipitously since then – a troubling sign for the state’s economy.
Officially, South Carolina’s unemployment rate stood at 8.6 percent in March – roughly a percentage point higher than the national average. However given that our labor participation rate is so much lower than the national average, the real “jobs gap” between the Palmetto State and the rest of the country is much higher.
Look for this key statistic to start getting some play in the coming months as Haley – who brands herself as the “Jobs Governor” – prepares to kick off what’s likely to be a difficult reelection bid.
***
6 comments
How can this be? Tom Davis said he would introduce legislation this session to solve this predicament.
How can this be? Tom Davis said he would introduce legislation this session to solve this predicament.
Our “Jobs Governor” is a JOKE. If Office Employees International Union (OEIU) came to organize State employees (especially SCDEW employees ) they most certainly would have an easy time of it!
Our “Jobs Governor” is a JOKE. If Office Employees International Union (OEIU) came to organize State employees (especially SCDEW employees ) they most certainly would have an easy time of it!
If she’d have branded herself the “Blow Jobs Governor” you’d have no gripe.
If she’d have branded herself the “Blow Jobs Governor” you’d have no gripe.