Business

Berkeley County’s Unemployment Rate Lower than a Year Ago, State Unchanged

by Nikki Gaskins Campbell

jobsBERKELEY COUNTY, S.C.–South Carolina’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in January remained unchanged at 5.5 percent from December 2015, the Department of Employment and Workforce reports.

Meanwhile, Berkeley County’s unemployment rate was slightly lower than the state average at 5.1 percent for the same time period.

This is actually a decrease of more than two percent compared to a year ago when the unemployment rate stood at 6.3 percent here.

“Berkeley County is open for business, and Berkeley County means business,” said Berkeley County Supervisor Bill Peagler, referring to the motto he coined for the county after taking office in January 2015. “Berkeley County is a desirable place to be for business.”

More than 88,624 people were employed in Berkeley County in January while 4,781 remained unemployed.

“With the lowest county government tax millage rate in the state, close proximity to two major interstates and the Port of Charleston, available land and building space, and a county government committed to recruiting and supporting business – this significant drop in our unemployment rate comes as no surprise. We will continue to improve how our county government operates, so we can be the most business-friendly county in the state,” stated Peagler.

Allendale County had the highest unemployment rate in that state at 10 percent while Charleston County had the lowest rate at 4.5 percent.

Government employment increased about more than 1,500 jobs. The construction segment also added more than 1,100 jobs.

There was a drop in professional and business services of about 4,500 jobs. The trade, transportation and utility segment dropped by nearly 4,000 jobs. Leisure and hospital dropped by 3,500 positions.

Nationally, January’s unemployment rate stood at 4.9 percent.

 

 

 

 
Nikki Gaskins Campbell
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