The number of South Carolinians working continued its climb to a new record level in May, which helped push the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate down to 5.6 percent in May from 5.8 percent in April. The number of people employed increased by 2,988 to 2,184,782.
Also driving the rate lower was a decrease in the labor force. The number of unemployed individuals dropped by 4,493 over the month to 129,802. The labor force declined in May by 1,505 to 2,314,584 people.
Since May 2015, the number of people working increased by 71,401, and unemployment fell by 7,243 individuals. The labor force has grown by 64,158 people since a year ago.
Nationally, May’s unemployment rate fell from 5 percent to 4.7 percent as many people left the labor force.
Dillon County’s rate fell from 7.5 percent to 6.9 percent. Dillon County ranked tenth in the state in unemployment.