County unemployment climbs to 13.7 percent in May

Darlington County’s unemployment rate reached its highest level in nearly 16 years in May at 13.7 percent, an increase of 1.2 percentage points over April’s 12.5 percent, the S.C. Employment Security Commission reported Friday.

That is the highest monthly jobless level reported since September of 1993 when the county reported unemployment at a rate of 13.9 percent.

As recently as March the county reported a jobless rate of 13.5 percent.

The news comes as the commission reported South Carolina’s jobless rate for May at a record level of 12.1 percent, up 0.7 of a percent from April.

Chesterfield County’s rate for the month remained virtually unchanged at 17.1 percent versus 17 percent in April, according to the commission’s unadjusted figures.

Despite the rise in joblessness, the state saw increases in jobs in all but one employment sector - manufacturing, which lost 2,200 jobs in May. In the last year, manufacturing has lost 29,000 jobs statewide, said Roosevelt T. Halley, the commission’s executive director.

“The decline in manufacturing jobs does not bode well for the state’s chances of an economic recovery in the short term,“ Halley said.

Darlington County’s labor force grew in May from 32,777 in April to 33,225, according to the commission’s figures. The number of jobless claims in the county jumped sharply in May from 4,110 in April to 4,556.

One year earlier, the county reported a jobless rate of 7.2 percent with 2,260 unemployed out of a labor force of 31,249.

In Chesterfield County, the labor force went from 19,280 to 19,380 in May, while jobless claims rose from 3,281 to 3,323.

In May of 2008, Chesterfield’s jobless rate stood at 7.3 percent, with 1,340 workers idled out of a labor force of 18,470.

Darlington County’s May rate tied it with Fairfield and Sumter counties with the 23rd highest rate among the state’s 46 counties. Chesterfield County had the 11th highest rate.
Allendale County led the state in unemployment for the month at 22.1 percent, up from 21.5 percent in April.

The state’s lowest rate came in Lexington County at 8.1 percent, up from 7.5 percent the previous month.

Among surrounding counties, Marion County posted the second highest rate at 22 percent, up from 20.9 percent. Marlboro County ranked fifth highest at 19.8 percent, down from 21.4 percent in April.

Dillon County ranked 12th at 16.8 percent, compared to 16.7 percent in April. Lee County ranked 16th at 16 percent, up slightly from 15.8 percent in April. Florence County tied with Calhoun County at 30th with a rate of 11.5 percent, up from 10.9 percent for Florence and 10.5 percent from Calhoun.

Nonfarm employment in the state rose for the third month in a row in May, adding 11,800 jobs, according to the commission.

Leisure and Hospitality led the gains with an increase of 7,100 jobs, reflecting growing tourist activity, the commission said. Other sectors reporting notable gains included Financial Activities, up 1,700; Retail Trade, up 1,400; and Education and Health Services, up 1,100.

Construction jobs rose by 1,200 in May, the first increase since July 2008 as specialty trade contractors added workers for remodeling and repair jobs.
The state’s overall job count remained 90,300 below the level a year ago, according to the commission.

“The recent increases in seasonal jobs were welcome and beneficial for South Carolina,“ Halley said. But he cautioned, “The seasonal increases have been lower than recent historic levels, and manufacturing jobs continue to decline.“