The unemployment rate for Marlboro County saw a decrease in February.
The rate decreased from 9.5 to 8.1% in
Several counties saw decreases while a majority saw an increase in their rates. Marlboro continues to be the highest in the state.
Allendale and Bamberg counties were second and third at 6.4% and 5.8%.
Despite an increase, Charleston County still had the lowest rate at 3.1%
The state unemployment rate remained at 3.2%.
Acting Employment and Workforce Executive Director William Floyd said the first quarter of 2023 continues on a steady course and the unemployment rate holds at 3.2%, the same as January’s rate.
“In addition, the labor force participation rate ticked up slightly to 55.9% with 2,382,172 people in the labor force, a high for South Carolina,” continued Floyd. “This is the trend we would like to see continue to climb. As announced early this week, Scout Motors expects to bring 4,000 jobs to the Midlands, and every day there are announcements of other new businesses coming to the state bringing great jobs and careers with them. South Carolina has the educational infrastructure, including excellent technical colleges, to prepare the workforce, which DEW and SC Works connect with South Carolina businesses.”
He added the state continued to boom with business and opportunity, this is a perfect time for all job seekers to find the right job to help themselves and their families.
In the Pee Dee region, unemployment rates continued to increase. They were Florence County from 3.5 to 3.6%; Chesterfield County from 3.7 to 3.8%; Darlington County from 3.8 to 4.0%; Williamsburg County from 5.8 to 5.6; Dillon County 5.4 to 5.2%; and Marion County from 5.6 to 5.5%.
In February 2022, Marlboro County had an unemployment rate of 8.9%.