South Carolina’s jobless rate remained stuck at eight percent in May, according to data released by the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce (SCDEW). The agency has yet to release information on the state’s labor participation rate, though, which inched up from a record low of 58.5 percent in March to 58.9 percent in April.
Obviously that number – which measures the percentage of the state’s working age population that is either employed or actively searching for a job – is critical in determining the overall health of the state’s job market.
We’ll publish that data as soon as we have it …
Nationally, the unemployment rate stands at 7.6 percent with a 63.4 percent labor participation rate. That latter figure is up from a 34-year-low of 63.3 percent in April.
While SCDEW says South Carolina added 5,400 non-farm jobs from April to May, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) listed the Palmetto State as having shed 7,700 jobs – the third-highest job loss figure in the country.
“The largest over-the-month decrease in employment occurred in Pennsylvania (-9,200), followed by South Carolina (-7,700) and Florida (-6,200),” the BLS release stated.
Wait … how did South Carolina manage to gain and lose jobs in the same month?
It all boils down to definitions: The number the BLS cited is seasonally adjusted, the number cited by the state is not. In other words the BLS figure accounts for seasonal gains (or losses) in employment that typically occur at this time of year. South Carolina is choosing to release a number that does not incorporate those normal gains.
“They’re just choosing to publish the non-seasonally adjusted numbers,” a BLS spokesman told FITS, referring to the SCDEW data. “All this means is it was a worse May than usual.
Hmmmm …
However you slice it, out state’s jobless rate is higher than the national average … meanwhile our state’s income levels remain among the lowest in the country.
Not good, people … not good.
MAY 2013 UNEMPLOYMENT REPORT (.pdf)
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24 comments
Of course SCDEW field staff are hard at work looking for jobs…for themselves. All SCDEW field staff are laid off as of next Friday and have had to reapply for 153 fewer jobs and few have been filled. “It’s a great day in South Carolina?”
Yes it is Ms. Muff. 153 fewer pirate citizens to invade the privacy of hard working SC private citizens. Excellent Catch. Good eye, good eye!!
DICK!
BBBwwwwahahahahahhaahahahaa
Of course SCDEW field staff are hard at work looking for jobs…for themselves. All SCDEW field staff are laid off as of next Friday and have had to reapply for 153 fewer jobs and few have been filled. “It’s a great day in South Carolina?”
Yes it is Ms. Muff. 153 fewer pirate citizens to invade the privacy of hard working SC private citizens. Excellent Catch. Good eye, good eye!!
DICK!
BBBwwwwahahahahahhaahahahaa
This is the most unorganized agency I have ever seen. They are making all these changes, cutting jobs and expecting staff to continue to work their butts off for nothing. They are replacing experience hard working, high performing staff with people from the outside who know nothing about what needs to be done and certainly don’t have any idea about how to get things done!
I AGREE. Bad Day you are absolutely right. Why in the world would they be replacing these experienced people with these unwitting no account BA’s and MBA’s.
They should just FIRE the experienced ones and hire NO ONE. THEN CLOSE THE WHOLE DAMN THING DOWN.
This is the most unorganized agency I have ever seen. They are making all these changes, cutting jobs and expecting staff to continue to work their butts off for nothing. They are replacing experience hard working, high performing staff with people from the outside who know nothing about what needs to be done and certainly don’t have any idea about how to get things done!
I AGREE. Bad Day you are absolutely right. Why in the world would they be replacing these experienced people with these unwitting no account BA’s and MBA’s.
They should just FIRE the experienced ones and hire NO ONE. THEN CLOSE THE WHOLE DAMN THING DOWN.
I would like to know how the rate held steady at 8.0 when it went up in every county. Not sure how that math works.
I would like to know how the rate held steady at 8.0 when it went up in every county. Not sure how that math works.
Frankly frank…you have no idea what you are talking about. The workers being laid off have degrees and experience. They also have common sense and care about the people they are helping. YOU ARE A JERK
BBBBwwwwwahahahhahahahahahaahahahahaa
Frankly frank…you have no idea what you are talking about. The workers being laid off have degrees and experience. They also have common sense and care about the people they are helping. YOU ARE A JERK
Frankly frank…you have no idea what you are talking about. The workers being laid off have degrees and experience. They also have common sense and care about the people they are helping. YOU ARE A JERK
BBBBwwwwwahahahhahahahahahaahahahahaa
A lot of not-needed, dead-weight government employees being trimmed from taxpayer-funded payrolls…
Any government body raising taxes (Lexington County) in the Obama Depression, should be JUDGED harshly by the voters…
If there is ANY good from Obama’s Horrible economy, it is the reduction of bloated, over-regulating, government staffs…
And DO NOT let them fatten the government payroll back up when we get rid of the Fiscal disease known as Obama…
Excellent post T. Good Job.
Mr. Pytel,
I have read many of your comments on this site in reference to SCDEW and I find your comments to be very interesting.
To give you the benefit of the doubt, I am not going to judge you by your comments because I have no idea who you are. I just have one question for you…do you honestly think that a degree alone makes one qualified for a position?
Surely you know many people just as I do that have two or three degrees and they are as dumb as dirt. Maybe you have a point about closing the entire agency down. It appears that this is what they are trying to do. Why…who knows.
Just curious what you stance was on that…..
Mr. Pytel,
I have read many of your comments on this site in reference to SCDEW and I find your comments to be very interesting.
To give you the benefit of the doubt, I am not going to judge you by your comments because I have no idea who you are. I just have one question for you…do you honestly think that a degree alone makes one qualified for a position?
Surely you know many people just as I do that have two or three degrees and they are as dumb as dirt. Maybe you have a point about closing the entire agency down. It appears that this is what they are trying to do. Why…who knows.
Just curious what you stance was on that…..