S.C. unemployment agency faces own layoffs
COLUMBIA — Citing the loss of federal funding, South Carolina’s state unemployment agency announced Monday it will shed more than 130 employees by next summer.
Fifty-five of those employees will be laid off by Wednesday, according to a spokeswoman for the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce.
The agency is looking to lose another 86 employees by June 13, though it hopes to accomplish that reduction through attrition, retirement incentive plans and voluntary separation plans.
The job cuts, which will be spread across the state, are due to the loss of federal money for emergency unemployment compensation and extended benefits programs, according to the Employment and Workforce Department.
“We have to align our workforce according to current and future projected funding streams,” Executive Director Abraham Turner said in a written statement.
The agency is working hard to minimize the impact of the loss of federal funding, he added.
“As we move forward, I am confident that despite this difficult time, there will be no loss of services offered to fellow citizens and businesses across the state,” he said.
Reach Stephen Largen at 864-641-8172 and follow him on Twitter @stephenlargen.
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