SC

SC Jobs Report: No Progress

South Carolina’s unemployment rate remained stuck at 8.1 percent for the third consecutive month in August, while the state’s labor force continued shrinking. More than 1,500 Palmetto State residents left the ranks of the gainfully employed last month – while just under 1,200 joined the unemployment line according to data…

South Carolina’s unemployment rate remained stuck at 8.1 percent for the third consecutive month in August, while the state’s labor force continued shrinking. More than 1,500 Palmetto State residents left the ranks of the gainfully employed last month – while just under 1,200 joined the unemployment line according to data released by the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce (SCDEW).

The other 300 or so workers? They left the labor force altogether – part of a disturbing downward trend in labor participation.

In fact earlier this week FITS exclusively reported on South Carolinas July labor participation rate – which hit a record low of 58.5 percent. The national rate – which is at its lowest level since 1978 – is 63.2 percent.

The ongoing slippage in South Carolina’s employment situation coincides with the launch of Gov. Nikki Haley’s 2014 reelection bid – a campaign built exclusively on her alleged “economic development” successes.

But aside from expanding government and throwing tax dollars at select corporations, where is the “success?”

A report released earlier this year ranked South Carolina as one of the worst states in America try and make a living. Other recent reports showed the Palmetto State as having a terrible business tax climate as well as zero upward mobility for its citizens.

And while Haley has been more than willing to grow government and dole out incentives, a recent analysis of private sector job creation among America’s governors ranked her No. 34 out of 45 (five governors were excluded from the study because they took office in 2013). One of those five governors, North Carolina’s Pat McCrory, recently signed a massive $2.5 billion tax cut – which will only further diminish South Carolina’s competitive position.

AUGUST 2013 UNEMPLOYMENT REPORT (.pdf)

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18 comments

Baruch September 20, 2013 at 11:25 am

You mean North Carolina will soon be competing with South Carolina at the bottom of the economic heap, right? Targeting low wage employers with massive tax subsidies ………. All “brought in” jobs are not created equal

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anon. September 20, 2013 at 11:44 am

Let’s see, Nikki appoints a former general with a music degree and NO business experience to run SCDEW and that ends with fiscal mismanagement and massive layoffs of SCDEW staff. Then, Nikki appoints a New York labor Attorney who knows nothing about Workforce Development to run SCDEW, but who was the Council for the White House Personnel office (political payoff…) and SC Labor Force Hits Record Low … Again. I wonder why…
Nikki Haley only cares about Nikki Haley.

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inciteful September 21, 2013 at 1:53 pm

further
And what does the NY labor attorney do?…further cut back local access to employment services! The federal Department of Labor wants the state run One-Stops to work with their local Workforce Investment Boards (WIAs). But the new chick from NY refuses to pay the lease costs of her one-stops to be co-located with these effective federal WIAs as directed. The General with the music degree previously cut back the local staff by 22% shipping all the jobs and budget to his kingdom back in Columbia from the front lines. Now the NY lawyer replacement is cutting back services even further by not paying her bills. New face, same incompetance.

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Jan September 20, 2013 at 12:30 pm

You mean Pat McCrory recently signed a tax cut for NC’s wealthiest citizens. Everyone else got screwed by an offsetting tax hike.

That said we obviously do not need any more jobs we gave us thousands by not expanding Medicaid.

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nitrat September 20, 2013 at 12:49 pm

And, McCrony has exploded the NC public payroll with the numbers of his campaign staff and contributors getting high, high salary jobs with the evil NC government.
He is a male Nikki Haley…and, positively slimy.

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Frank Pytel September 20, 2013 at 1:04 pm

Fits;
Personally I don’t understand why you don’t ban the HufPo crowd. Every article on NObamacare and finances seems to bring them out of the woodwork about a year before elections or a big federal vote.

What in the world does Snoros do with them when there’s nothing eminent anyway?

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William September 20, 2013 at 1:17 pm

Yea, maybe you can get rid of the Faux News crowd and the Ron Paul groupies while you are at it.

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Jan September 20, 2013 at 1:35 pm

Once again, as with all Republicans these days, I see you prefer to stick with your narrative, and keep the facts in the dark.
Anyway, facts should not be involved in the debate. They are very biased against the far right.

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Frank Pytel September 20, 2013 at 2:25 pm

I TOLD YOU DON’T CUSS ME YOU LITTLE COMMIE DEMLICAN. I AIN’T NO REPUKLICRAT.

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Slartibartfast September 20, 2013 at 1:57 pm

According to the NC small business community, Gov Pat has saved their bacon with the tax cut. If so, employment numbers (minus the number of jobs lost to Obamacare) should increase. If we can rid the land of the most destructive legislation since reconstruction, North Carolina’s economy will take off like a Korolev rocket.

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Jan September 20, 2013 at 2:11 pm

Who speaks for the NC Small Business Community? And that still does not change the fact the sales tax increase will more than offset the tax cut for 95% of North Carolina residents.

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Slartibartfast September 20, 2013 at 2:25 pm

Something that we should emulate, here.

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Jan September 20, 2013 at 3:42 pm

So you believe the top 5% should get a huge tax cut and everyone else should get at tax increase.

Reply
Slartibartfast September 21, 2013 at 6:05 pm

Well since you don’t pay any meaningful taxes, how would you know?

Jan September 22, 2013 at 4:19 pm

Ah there we go. Typical Republican. Everyone who does not think as you do must be a taker. Well you don’t know me buddy, and I assure you I pay a lot of taxes. Not to mention making payroll taxes for now 6 employees and health insurance for 5 employees.
The difference is I care about the country, and the truth, while you don’t give a damn about anyone but yourself.

Slartibartfast September 22, 2013 at 6:07 pm

Half right. I’m not even close to being a Republican. But you are correct. ANYONE who thinks that there is a no-man’s-land where the rape of the taxed is different from the benefits of the recipients IS a taker. If you really cared about the country you would agitate to put to death anyone who is a RINO or a Democrat.

Jan September 22, 2013 at 6:31 pm

You, like every tea partier I have ever met, are a non-republican in name only. You will always vote Republican.
The Declaration of Independence says the role of government is to secure the rights of the people to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and other unnamed things. The Constitution says the role of government is to establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty now and in the future. How can it perform any of those roles without the resources to do so? That means taxes.
I expect you are a fairly typical Republican. You are fine with the government paying for the things you feel you benefit from, but not for anything else, a constant victim of those who take advantage of you.

Slartibartfast September 22, 2013 at 7:29 pm

“Name call, name call, name call, name call, name call, name call.. see how much sense I make?! You’re a blankety blank blank, categorize, categorize, great big generalization.” I think that just about sums up everything you’ve said on this blog.

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