South Carolina’s labor participation rate – or the number of working age persons who are either employed or looking for a job – fell to 58.6 percent in February, the lowest level on record.
It’s a dismal mark the Palmetto State has hit twice before (last November and last December) – and a sign of the extent to which the so-called “recovery” continues to leave South Carolinians behind.
Nationally, the labor participation rate fell to 63.3 percent in March – a thirty-four-year low. Of course that figure looks positively rosy compared to South Carolina’s anemic data. New labor participation numbers will be available later this week, although the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce (SCDEW) does not publicly release this information.
FITS obtained the data by submitting a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.
Labor participation in South Carolina rose steadily during the first six months of S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley’s term in 2011 – climbing to 60.9 percent in June 2011 – however it has been sliding precipitously since then.
Officially, South Carolina’s unemployment rate stands at 8.6 percent – roughly a percentage point higher than the national average. Of course when you consider that our participation rate is so much lower than the national average, the real jobs gap between the Palmetto State and the rest of the country is likely much higher.
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30 comments
Cockroach Queen’s re-election campaign war chest increases in wealth while workforce decreases
Out of hope, out of work and they still give their last dime it to their Queen
True testament to the fortitude of South Carolina’s taxpayers
Lot of fortitude, but dumb as a rock
Go kiss Obama’s @$$ some more Dumb@$$…
It began w/ him…and he has just made it worse…Get educated before running your mouth. You make yourself look like an idiot who only watches and listens to MSNBC or CNN……
Heart warming that you know the difference between looking like an idiot and being an idiot, idiot
I think you both need a timeout.
thank you mommy
AS USUAL BigT, you are correct. Obamacare will destroy us, the final nail in the coffin.
Cockroach Queen’s re-election campaign war chest increases in wealth while workforce decreases
Out of hope, out of work and they still give their last dime it to their Queen
True testament to the fortitude of South Carolina’s taxpayers
Lot of fortitude, but dumb as a rock
Go kiss Obama’s @$$ some more Dumb@$$…
It began w/ him…and he has just made it worse…Get educated before running your mouth. You make yourself look like an idiot who only watches and listens to MSNBC or CNN……
Heart warming that you know the difference between looking like an idiot and being an idiot, idiot
I think you both need a timeout.
thank you mommy
AS USUAL BigT, you are correct. Obamacare will destroy us, the final nail in the coffin.
I am not one to defend politicians who don’t need defending, and so I am not defending the Governor here. However, if you want to blame people for the poor governance of our state, don’t blame the weakest Governor in the nation, blame the strongest legislature. You can blame the Governor, and perhaps kick her out of office, but you won’t solve the problem. To solve the problem, you either need to start showing the door to many, many ineffective legislators or strengthen the office of the Governor, and then you can hold that person accountable.
While I share most of your sentiment we differ in some respects. We agree about the relative power of the Governor and the General Assembly. Our agreement diverges when the acid test of leadership is applied.
Friiz Hollings bet his ascendent political career by highlighting the plight of the poor and undernourished in SC and the South with more liberal colleagues than most SC pols dared. Of course he laid claim to SC’s Technical College system as his first act.
Robert McNair helped usher in segregation in this state by taking the high and more disciplined road versus the low road traveled by Lester Maddox and George Wallace, his Souther peers in Georgia and Alabama, respectively.
Dick Riley appealed to the taxpayers and voters of SC to gain the penny tax increase for education. He did so by standing up directly to powerful special interests, the business community, and a less than receptive legislature.
Carroll Campbell forcefully delivered the culmination of SC’s switch from Democratic control to Republican. He did it by herding the legislative cats with the assistance of the electorate. He brought the hammer down on recalcitrants.
Even David Beasley had the courage to bet his career on societal change although unsuccessfully when he led the fight to take down the Confederate flag.
All five of the aforementioned had one thing in common: they bet their careers on high stakes positions that required voters to demand and overcome legislative and other powerful interest groups.
The bottom line is: Governors can and have brought about change in SC by exhibiting strong leadership and determined will.
The present governor has shown no predilection to do likewise. In fact, she seems determined to “red meat” her way to higher office or greater financial reward much like Sarah Palin. She is a noisemaker like her immediate predecessor, Sanford. A show horse, not a workhorse.
This lady has no intention to bet her career on improvement, nor does she apparently give a damn about anything other than self-promotion. She is a far cry from a leader of constructive albeit difficult change.
I won’t hold my breath waiting on her.
I am not one to defend politicians who don’t need defending, and so I am not defending the Governor here. However, if you want to blame people for the poor governance of our state, don’t blame the weakest Governor in the nation, blame the strongest legislature. You can blame the Governor, and perhaps kick her out of office, but you won’t solve the problem. To solve the problem, you either need to start showing the door to many, many ineffective legislators or strengthen the office of the Governor, and then you can hold that person accountable.
While I share most of your sentiment we differ in some respects. We agree about the relative power of the Governor and the General Assembly. Our agreement diverges when the acid test of leadership is applied.
Friiz Hollings bet his ascendent political career by highlighting the plight of the poor and undernourished in SC and the South with more liberal colleagues than most SC pols dared. Of course he laid claim to SC’s Technical College system as his first act.
Robert McNair helped usher in segregation in this state by taking the high and more disciplined road versus the low road traveled by Lester Maddox and George Wallace, his Souther peers in Georgia and Alabama, respectively.
Dick Riley appealed to the taxpayers and voters of SC to gain the penny tax increase for education. He did so by standing up directly to powerful special interests, the business community, and a less than receptive legislature.
Carroll Campbell forcefully delivered the culmination of SC’s switch from Democratic control to Republican. He did it by herding the legislative cats with the assistance of the electorate. He brought the hammer down on recalcitrants.
Even David Beasley had the courage to bet his career on societal change although unsuccessfully when he led the fight to take down the Confederate flag.
All five of the aforementioned had one thing in common: they bet their careers on high stakes positions that required voters to demand and overcome legislative and other powerful interest groups.
The bottom line is: Governors can and have brought about change in SC by exhibiting strong leadership and determined will.
The present governor has shown no predilection to do likewise. In fact, she seems determined to “red meat” her way to higher office or greater financial reward much like Sarah Palin. She is a noisemaker like her immediate predecessor, Sanford. A show horse, not a workhorse.
This lady has no intention to bet her career on improvement, nor does she apparently give a damn about anything other than self-promotion. She is a far cry from a leader of constructive albeit difficult change.
I won’t hold my breath waiting on her.
Thanks Obama…
Just like the Robust economy under Bush benefited Sanford…don’t blame Haley for a National problem…
How is this OBAMA’s Fault. Enough with the finger pointing. It starts here in this state.
Quit lying to yourself…It’s a Terrible economy NATIONALLY…And it began w/ Obama..and he has done NOTHING to make it better.
As a matter of fact: The economy may have surged a little in the fall because most honest people thought Romney would be elected. But the economy has sunk back down, and businesses are scraed to death of ObamaCare.
Obama is Horrible for the economy and he he has no plan, and he does not give a D@*n…
“Robust economy under Bush”‘
Worst job creation on record. Financial markets in ruin. Economy purging 800k jobs a month when he leaves office. Yeah, let’s get some more of that action.
Don’t confuse him with verifiable facts. He is just a little idio”T”.
Thanks Obama…
Just like the Robust economy under Bush benefited Sanford…don’t blame Haley for a National problem…
How is this OBAMA’s Fault. Enough with the finger pointing. It starts here in this state.
Quit lying to yourself…It’s a Terrible economy NATIONALLY…And it began w/ Obama..and he has done NOTHING to make it better.
As a matter of fact: The economy may have surged a little in the fall because most honest people thought Romney would be elected. But the economy has sunk back down, and businesses are scraed to death of ObamaCare.
Obama is Horrible for the economy and he he has no plan, and he does not give a D@*n…
“Robust economy under Bush”‘
Worst job creation on record. Financial markets in ruin. Economy purging 800k jobs a month when he leaves office. Yeah, let’s get some more of that action.
Don’t confuse him with verifiable facts. He is just a little idio”T”.
Obama loves 47% or more on hand-outs, like Romney WARNED us about…Why yall b!tc!*n’???
Obama loves 47% or more on hand-outs, like Romney WARNED us about…Why yall b!tc!*n’???
Labor participation rate across the entire country has been going down since 2001, don’t you think SC is especially falling victim to that due to its demographics and its general poor-as-shit rural areas?
Labor participation rate across the entire country has been going down since 2001, don’t you think SC is especially falling victim to that due to its demographics and its general poor-as-shit rural areas?