Staff Report
Published Nov. 20, 2009

South Carolina’s unemployment rate increased to 12.1% in October from a revised rate of 11.7% in September, the State Employment Security Commission reported today.

“Going forward, our state faces significant challenges as it tries to replace the large number of jobs lost due to the recession that began in December of 2007,” said Sam Foster, interim executive director of the Commission.

Lexington County continues to have the lowest unemployment rate in the state, although it increased from 8.3% in September to 8.6% in October.

Allendale remains the county with the highest unemployment, holding steady at 22.2%.

The state’s job count increased by 1,100 in October with most of the increases occurring in professional and  business services, government and retail trade. Partially offsetting the gains were losses in leisure and hospitality, manufacturing and construction.

The state’s overall job count was 60,500 below what it was this time last year, the Commission said.