In March, South Carolina’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 5.5 percent from February’s rate of 5.7 percent.
Dillon County’s rate was down from 8.4 percent in February to 8.1 percent in March.
The last time the Palmetto State’s rate was at this level was in March 2008. From February to March 2014, the number of unemployed persons declined by 5,077, to a level of 119,058.
The estimated number of employed persons in March was 2,046,002, up 6,560 since February. This is the eighth consecutive monthly increase and marks a state historic employment high. From March 2013 to March 2014, an estimated 32,555 people have found work.
The labor force increased slightly in March, up by 1,483 to 2,165,060. Since March 2013 the labor force has declined by nearly 23,982 people.
Nationally, the unemployment rate was unchanged at 6.7 percent in March.