South Carolina’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 8.1 percent for July 2013. Over the year, the rate has dropped by more than a full percentage point.
There were 174,267 unemployed South Carolinians in July and an estimated total labor force of 2,161,966. The number of employed South Carolinians slid to 1,987,699, decreasing by 4,084 since June.
The state saw the most growth in professional and business services, construction, leisure and hospitality and other services.
Industries experiencing declines were manufacturing, financial activities, education and health services, and government.
Nationally, the unemployment rate declined to 7.4 percent from June’s estimate of 7.6 percent.
South Carolina’s seasonally adjusted non-farm payroll employment increased to 1,889,600, reaching this year’s highest level and representing an increase of 1,700 jobs over the month.
