SPA sees 6 percent increase in October container volume

Bucking a trend of falling container volume, the S.C. State Ports Authority Tuesday reported a nearly 6 percent increase for October compared with the same month last year as rival Savannah saw a dip.

But hold the applause: Bernard S. Groseclose Jr., the SPA's chief executive officer, cautioned that based on talks with customers the upswing was most likely "an aberration" and not a long-term trend.

Quarter-century mark

South Carolina's jobless rate jumped sharply in October to 8 percent, the highest point in nearly 25 years.

"This increase appears to be consistent with the overall worsening of the nation's economy as a result of the turmoil in the housing and financial markets," the state Employment Security Commission said.

While the retail and construction sectors combined to add an unexpected 3,100 positions, these gains are likely temporary, the commission said. The state's jobless rate was 7.3 percent in September.

Exiting execs

Just weeks into the job, the just-hired chief executive officer of East Cooper Regional Medical Center has made some big changes among her top-management ranks, saying it's time to bring in new leadership. The hospital's chief medical officer, chief operating officer, business development director and marketing director all recently left. CEO Janie Sinacore-Jaberg gave no specific reasons for the departures but said a new leadership team is needed to "help us create a vision for the future of our hospital."

East Cooper Regional is in the midst of building a $153 million replacement facility. Set to open in 2010, it will face head-on competition for both patients and physician services.

Manufacturing woes I

A longtime North Charleston plant that makes display cabinets and fixtures for retail stores will go dark by early 2009 in a move that will eliminate about 110 local jobs.

Leggett & Platt Inc. notified employees that it will shut down the former Goer Manufacturing site by the end of February. "The closing is the result of a consolidation of operations," according to the statement.

Manufacturing woes II

AAI Inc., which makes aircraft maintenance training devices for the military, has laid off 23 of its 210 workers at its Goose Creek plant. The company said the cuts were in response to slowing demand for a simulator it manufactures for the Air Force.

Robert Bosch, meanwhile, said it has trimmed 20 jobs from its massive 2,100-employee payroll in North Charleston. The cutbacks at Bosch stem from falling demand for the automobile parts that the company makes at its Dorchester County plant.

Upstate expansion

Charleston-based software maker Benefitfocus on Tuesday marked the opening of its new offices in Greenville, where it plans to add 200 employees to its existing Upstate payroll over the next few years.

The 27,000-square-foot building near the airport and interstate highway system includes more conference space and more powerful Internet connections, the company said. Benefitfocus specializes in health-care benefits software.

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