In August, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained unchanged at 8.1 percent.
Dillon County’s unemployment rate was up slightly from 12.2 percent in July to 12.3 percent in August. In August 2012, unemployment was 14.3 percent.
The unemployment rate has shown little movement since April, fluctuating between 8.0 and 8.1 percent. Unemployed persons totaled 175,602 in August, an increase of 1,165. The number of employed fell 1,526 over-the-month to 1,986,209.
There was a small decline in the labor force (-361) to 2,161,811 people.
Nationally, the unemployment rate dropped to 7.3 percent from July’s estimate of 7.4 percent.
Nonagricultural Employment by Industry (Seasonally Adjusted1)
A small increase of 600 from July to August pushed seasonally adjusted, non-farm payroll employment in South Carolina to a year-high level of 1,890,200. This over-the-month change was the lowest employment increase since June 2013.
-There were gains in Professional and Business Services (+1,100); Manufacturing (+900); and as educators began the new school year, Government (+800).
-Additional growth occurred in Other Services (+200) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+100).
-Financial Activities and Leisure and Hospitality both had declines (-700), along with Education and Health Services (-600) and Construction (-500).
Since August 2012, seasonally adjusted non-farm jobs were up 35,200.
-Industries with notable growth over the year were Leisure and Hospitality (+10,500); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+8,500); Professional and Business Services (+5,400); Construction (+4,200); Financial Activities (+3,300); and Government (+2,500).
-Smaller gains occurred in Manufacturing (+1,300) and Information (+200).
-Modest drops were reported in Education and Health Services (-400) and Other Services (-200).
Nonagricultural Employment by Industry (Not Seasonally Adjusted2)
From July to August 2013, not-seasonally adjusted, non-farm payroll employment fell 1,500 to 1,892,200. As state and local schools augmented staff for the opening day of the school year, the Government sector grew by 1,700. However, large over-the-month decreases in various industries, especially Leisure and Hospitality (-3,400), offset any gains made during the month.