South Carolina’s jobless rate rose to 9.1% in May

South Carolina’s unemployment rate rose in May for the first time in 10 months as more people joined the labor force, new figures show.

The state Department of Employment and Workforce said today that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 9.1 percent in May from 8.8 percent in April.

The number of unemployed people in South Carolina increased by 5,861 to 195,905. At the same time, the

number of employed people decreased by 3,886 to 1,957,360.

Nationally, the unemployment rate increased slightly to 8.2 percent in May from 8.1 percent in April.

“Despite our unemployment rate edging up this month, more than 24,000 of our fellow citizens have found jobs in the past year,” said Abraham J. Turner, executive director of the Department of

Employment and Workforce. “Historically, South Carolina’s unemployment rate fluctuations have mirrored the movements of the national rate, and this month is no exception. We are encouraged that people are entering the labor force searching for employment, and DEW continues to remain focused on

putting South Carolinians back to work.”

The jobless rate for the Charleston region jumped to 7.9 percent in May from 7 percent the previous month.

See Saturday’s editions of The Post and Courier for more details.