Region’s jobless rates among lowest recorded; unemployment inches up for area counties

Its rate was 3.7 percent in September, which was the county’s lowest rate since 1990.

“We have had a very nice run of economic development announcements,” Orangeburg County Development Commission Executive Director Gregg Robinson said.

For instance, Orangeburg County just announced its 22nd international company, the Italian company Valagro.

“You have a number of opportunities in the region as well as small business construction services and housing improvements are also better than they have been in years past,” Robinson said.

“You see a lot of labor that has typically been idle that is now moving in the right direction,” he said.

Orangeburg County had South Carolina’s second-highest unemployment rate in October.

Bamberg County had the state’s highest unemployment rate at 4.9 percent. It was 4.3 the month before.

The 4.9 percent rate is the third lowest the county has experienced since county-level records began, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Calhoun County’s unemployment rose to 2.8 percent in October from 2.5 percent in September. The county had the 11th highest unemployment rate among the state’s 46 counties.

This is the county’s second-lowest rate ever recorded. Its lowest rate was recorded in September.

The statewide unemployment rate in October was 2.6 percent. In September, the rate was 2.9 percent.

“The news is astounding: More than 58,000 new jobs created in 2019. More than 12,000 people removed from the unemployed ranks during this year,” said Dan Ellzey, executive director of the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce.

Ellzey says while the news is good for employees, for employers it is split.

“The incredibly low unemployment rate will make it more difficult to find employees,” Ellzey said. “On the other hand, our agency’s announcement of a 34 percent tax rate cut for unemployment insurance will save South Carolina businesses approximately $68 million.”

Ellzey says the department is working to identify and train employees to fill the open positions through flexible shift options.

The U.S. unemployment rate was 3.6 percent in October, up from 3.5 percent in September.

Charleston and Lexington counties had South Carolina’s lowest unemployment rates in October at 1.7 percent.

Other area counties’ unemployment rates in October were:

• Allendale – 4.1 percent

• Barnwell – 3.2 percent

• Dorchester – 1.8 percent