S.C. jobless rate falls again

South Carolina’s unemployment rate fell to 5.6 percent in October, the state’s lowest monthly figure since June 2007. It was the fifth consecutive monthly decline.

October’s rate was 0.1 percentage points below September’s 5.7 percent.

In the Midlands, the Lexington County rate fell to 4.8 from 4.9 in September. But the rate increased in Richland County, to 5.8 from 5.6 in September.

In October, the number of employed South Carolinians increased by more than 7,800 to a record level of more than 2.1 million.

Workforce officials say the professional and business services sector added 6,700 jobs over the last month. Education and health services grew by 2,700 positions.