S.C. unemployment rate ticks up to 6.8 percent in May

South Carolina’s unemployment rate inched up slightly again in May to 6.8 percent from 6.7 percent in April, the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce said Friday, as the number of unemployed individuals in the state also rose again last month, now totaling more than 153,000 people.

Even as the unemployment rate and the number of unemployed workers rose in May, the state’s labor force also grew again in May, increasing by nearly 7,500 workers to bring the state workforce to 2,263,293 people. The May labor force rise marks the 16th consecutive month of increases, DEW said, with 84,000 workers added to payrolls within the past 12 months.

The U.S. unemployment rate also rose in May, increasing from 5.4 percent to 5.5 percent.

This story was originally published June 19, 2015 at 10:51 AM.