Jobless Rate Up Statewide; Anderson County at 4.5 Percent

South Carolina's unemployment rate has risen slightly as the number of people working in the state climbs to a record high.

In Anderson County, the rate increased to 4.5 percent, up from 3.7 percent in December. With a workforce of 89,311, 85,319 were employed in January, leaving 3,992 unemployed. 

“Every county in the state saw an increase in its unemployment rate, except for Chester County which remained stable at 6.7%”, said Steve Newton, Anderson County’s Governmental Affairs Director.  “Every January we see an increase in the unemployment rate, and I think it can be attributed mainly to a reduced need for labor after the holidays.  We have about 1,200 more people employed now than last January, which is encouraging, but I know we all want to see the unemployment rate stabilize and head back in a positive direction soon.”

Unemployment rose in all of South Carolina's 46 counties except for one, where the rate was unchanged. Marion County has the state's highest jobless rate, at 9 percent.

The Department of Employment and Workforce said Monday that South Carolina's unemployment rate in January was 4.4 percent, up from 4.3 percent in December.

That increase mirrored national unemployment, which also rose 0.1 percent from December, to 4.8.

The agency says South Carolina's labor force rose above 2.3 million in January.