South Carolina’s unemployment rate dropped to 5.2% in February from 5.3% in January, according to estimates by the SC Department of Employment and Workforce, with the state’s leisure and hospitality industry continuing to decline. lose jobs.
DEW also announced that the state’s requirement for two weekly job searches to maintain eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits is being reinstated after being suspended when the COVID-19 pandemic spread in the state in March 2020.
“Now, a year later, as more and more Southern Carolinians are returning to work and the unemployment rate is consistently falling, it is time to re-establish the job search requirement to help employers and candidates connect,” Dan Ellzey, DEW’s executive director said in a press release. “We are and will continue to communicate directly with complainants about this future change and provide video and PDF tutorial resources on our website, social media and YouTube page.”
Ellzey said that while 125,000 SC residents receive unemployment insurance each week, employers have about 87,000 vacancies.
As of the week of April 18, claimants will be required to certify weekly claims as to why they remain unemployed and complete two job searches on the SC Works Online Services (SCWOS) portal, available online and via smartphone app.
“It is imperative that job searches are conducted while they are logged in to their account to ensure that the SCWOS system confirms with the claimant’s system that the individual has completed this requirement to remain eligible for benefits,” said Ellzey.
DEW’s monthly household survey estimated that the number of South Carolinians working increased to 2,253,199, an increase of 17,896 people in January 2021 and a decrease of 46,142 in February 2020.
Estimates of unemployment decreased to 124,099 people, a decrease of 1,345 compared to January 2021 and an increase of 58,119 compared to February 2020. The state’s estimated workforce, or people working more unemployed looking for work, increased to 2,377,298 , an increase of 16,551 people in January 2021 and 11,997 in February 2020.
At the national level, the unemployment rate fell to 6.2% in February from 6.3% in January.
Earnings from SC industry reports include transportation and utilities, which added 6,200 jobs, construction (2,200) and professional and commercial services (1,300). The leisure and hospitality industry lost 2,400 jobs, while the government lost 500 and the information industry lost 200.
Across the state, 6,300 seasonally adjusted non-agricultural jobs were added from January to February, although 85,100 have been lost since February 2021. The metropolitan statistical area of Columbia added 6,400 jobs month-to-month, but lost 14,200 jobs over the 12-month period. months.
Charleston / North Charleston MSA lost 200 jobs from January to February and 19,400 since February 2020. Greenville / Anderson / Mauldin added 21,000 jobs a month and lost 18,900 a year, while Spartanburg added 1,300 jobs month-to-month and lost 3,700 since February 2020.