S.C. jobless rate spikes to 6.6.%

By JIM DUPLESSIS - jduplessis@thestate.com

The state's jobless rate rose sharply to 6.6 percent in December as construction jobs continued to fall, the S.C. Employment Security Commission reported Friday.

The rate is the highest since November 2006 and the rate increased from 5.9 percent this past November after seasonal adjustments. The number of unemployed residents rose by about 16,000 last month. The state unemployment rate includes anyone actively looking for a job who does not have one.

A separate report showed South Carolina had 1.9 million non-farm jobs in December, 18,200 more than in December 2006.

"Construction, feeling the pinch from the nationwide housing crisis, cut 2,900 jobs over the month. Construction has lost jobs in five of the last seven months," the commission reported.

Stores added 1,200 positions to help with the holiday shopping season. "This increase, however, was far below expectations for this time of year."

The U.S. unemployment rate rose to 5 percent in December, up from a 4.7 percent seasonally adjusted rate in November.