South Carolina’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 8.1 percent for July 2013. Over the year, the rate has dropped by more than a full percentage point.
Dillon County’s rate dropped from 13.0 percent in June to 12.1 percent in July. The county tied with Clarendon for the number eight ranking in unemployment. Marion County led the state with 15.2 percent.
There were 174,267 unemployed South Carolinians in July and an estimated total labor force of 2,161,966. The number of employed South Carolinians slid to 1,987,699, decreasing by 4,084 since June.
Nationally, the unemployment rate declined to 7.4 percent from June’s estimate of 7.6 percent.
South Carolina’s seasonally adjusted non-farm payroll employment increased to 1,889,600, reaching this year’s highest level and representing an increase of 1,700 jobs over the month.
Nonagricultural Employment by Industry (Seasonally Adjusted1)
* South Carolina saw growth in Professional and Business Services (+3,100); Construction (+900); Other Services (+900); and Leisure and Hospitality (+800).
* Additional increases occurred in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+400) and Information (+200).
* Industries experiencing declines were Manufacturing (-1,100); Financial Activities (-700); Education and Health Services (-600); and Government (-2,100).
* Compared to a year ago, the number of job gains was up by 36,800, with notable advances in Leisure and Hospitality (+11,500); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+8,400); Construction (+4,600); Financial Activities (+3,900); Professional and Business Services (+3,700); and Government (+3,200).
Nonagricultural Employment by Industry (Not Seasonally Adjusted2)
Traditionally, not seasonally adjusted employment decreases during the summer months due to the seasonal layoffs and school closings between terms. As a result, the not-seasonally adjusted, non-farm payroll employment in July decreased by 11,200 over the month, to 1,893,700, including decreases in Government (-14,400) and Education and Health Services (-500).
* Although the overall total employment declined, there were large gains in Professional and Business Services (+2,400) and Leisure and Hospitality (+1,400). Small improvements were also reported in Other Services (+500), Construction (+400), and Information (+300).