South Carolina’s unemployment rate unchanged in January

South Carolina’s unemployment rate was unchanged in January, compared with December.

The Department of Employment and Workforce reported Monday that the jobless rate was 5.5 percent in January. The agency said the number of people who were working increased by nearly 11,000.

In the Midlands, the January unemployment rate for Richland County was 5.3 percent, an increase of .2 percentage points from the previous month but 1 percentage point lower than January 2015.

Lexington County had the state’s second-lowest unemployment rate overall in January at 4.6 percent, which was .3 percentage points higher than in December but .9 percentage points lower than January 2015.

The national unemployment rate in January was 4.9 percent.

Statewide, government employment increased more than 1,500 jobs. The construction segment added more than 1,100 jobs.

There was a drop in professional and business services of about 4,500 jobs. The trade, transportation and utility segment dropped by nearly 4,000 jobs. Leisure and hospitality dropped by 3,500 positions.

Allendale had the highest unemployment rate at 10 percent.

Charleston County had the lowest rate at 4.5 percent.

Staff writer Roddie Burris contributed.

This story was originally published March 14, 2016 at 2:24 PM with the headline "South Carolina’s unemployment rate unchanged in January."