S.C. Jobless Rate Drops Below 8 Percent

South Carolina's unemployment rate fell below 8 percent for the first time in five years when officials reported on Friday the jobless rate in September was 7.9 percent. Local county-by-county numbers were not available at press time.

The state's jobless rate was 8.1 percent in August, which was unchanged from the previous month.

"This is great news for South Carolinians because the last time the statewide rate was below 8.0 percent was in September 2008," said Cheryl M. Stanton, executive director of the state Department of Employment and Workforce.

DEW had been scheduled to release jobless figures Friday afternoon, three weeks after the original release date of Oct. 21. But the numbers were delayed due to the federal government shutdown, which included a temporary closure of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Late Friday afternoon, state officials said there had been another delay with the national numbers. The new figures were released shortly after 5 p.m.

"South Carolina's unemployment rate is now at a five year low but we want it even lower and will continue doing everything possible to make that happen," Gov. Nikki Haley said.