June joblessness in S.C. drops to 6.6% from May
The state’s June unemployment rate dropped to 6.6 percent from May’s 6.8 percent as nearly 2,100 people found work, the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce reported Tuesday.
The rate is higher, however, than a year ago when the June 2014 joblessness percentage was 6.3.
June marked 67 consecutive months that employment has increased, reaching another high of 2,112,034 people working, the agency said in its monthly report.
The number of unemployed people decreased by 4,401 to 148,757.
The Palmetto State’s joblessness rate lags well behind the nation. The U.S. unemployment rate is 5.3 percent in June, down from May’s 5.5.
Unemployment comparisons
South Carolina’s unemployment rate dropped slightly in June compared to May. Here’s a closer look.
SOUTH CAROLINA
June 2015: 6.6%
June 2014: 6.3%
METROPOLITAN COLUMBIA
June 2015: 6.3%
June 2014: 6.2%
RICHLAND COUNTY
June 2015: 6.6%
June 2014: 6.5%
LEXINGTON COUNTY
June 2015: 5.6%
June 2014: 5.4%
KERSHAW COUNTY
June 2015: 6.7%
June 2014: 6.7%
SOURCE: S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce
This story was originally published July 21, 2015 at 10:23 AM.