Jobless rate up

Six out of seven counties in the Pee Dee, as well as the state, have shown an increase in unemployment in April compared with March, according to the S.C. Employment Security Commission’s monthly report released Friday.

Both Marion and Marlboro counties showed unemployment ratings of 11.6 percent in April, and tied for having the state’s second highest unemployment rate.
Marion County’s unemployment rate increased a tenth of a percentage point from 11.5 percent in March, while Marlboro County jumped 1.3 percent from 10.3 percent in March.

Williamsburg County’s unemployment rate increased 0.2 percent from 9.1 percent to 9.3 percent, ranking the county at No. 9.

Dillon County came in at No. 13, with a tenth of a percentage point increase from 8.6 percent to 8.7 percent in April.

At No. 17 is Chesterfield County, with an unemployment rate of 7.4 percent, a tenth of a percentage point increase.

Darlington County, at 7.3 percent, had the second-highest unemployment rate increase in the Pee Dee with a 0.7 percent increase. The county was ranked No. 18 in the state.
Florence County had the lowest Pee Dee unemployment rate with 5.7 percent, showing a tenth of a percentage point decrease from March’s rating of 5.8 percent. Florence County tied with Spartanburg County, ranking at No. 28.

The state’s unemployment rate increased 0.2 of a percentage point to 5.9 percent, from 5.7 percent in March. The nation’s unemployment rate, however, dropped 0.1 of a percentage point to 5 percent in April.

According to the commission’s report, the state’s economy will face a “tough road” in coming months with the price of gasoline rapidly approaching $4 a gallon. The price of gasoline could hamper seasonal growth in tourist-related industries.

“The No. 1 impact is going to be in tourism,” said Sam McClary, a senior labor market analyst with the commission. “We think that could go in one or two ways. It could cause a sharp cutback in tourism activity. On the other hand, it could have people that are staying local for their vacations rather than driving out of state.

“It just remains to be seen.”

The top sector in the state to add jobs was leisure and hospitality, which added 8,800 jobs in April, according to the commission’s report.

An increase in tourist activity helped boost employment levels in the professional and business services sector, adding 3,500 jobs.

Financial activities added 1,500 jobs, while educational and health services added 600 jobs; retail trade added 500 jobs; information added 200 jobs; and government added 200 jobs. While manufacturing showed a small gain of 200 jobs in April, the sector is still down 2,800 jobs from a year ago.

Construction, however, didn’t follow suit. The construction sector lost another 2,400 jobs in April, marking the sixth straight month the building industry has declined, according to the report. Construction jobs are down 7,300 from a year ago.

“The downturn in construction, for the sixth straight month, is an area of a concern,” McClary said. “Everything else seems to be following pretty much normal seasonal patterns.”