SC named 3rd in highest unemployment rate (Columbia, Charleston: jobs, moving to)

[corruption]

MSN Careers - Worst States For Jobs - Career Advice Article

Any thoughts on this?

[Akhenaton06]

It's basically a combination of hemorrhaging manufacturing (particularly textile-related) jobs and job creation failing to keep pace with an expanding labor force.

[Frankie117]

I find that hard to believe, SC has had a great surge in new industry, especially in the last 10-15 years. I suppose its more of an issue of too many people wanting jobs and not enough to go around?

[Nausikaa]

The unemployment figures are high for SC because there are pockets of areas where there is exceptionally high unemployment. There are rural areas where there is little manufacturing, and many people with limited education. In other words - there are few jobs available for these people.

In the cities of Greenville, Columbia and Charleston, the unemployment is much lower.

It is what it is. The high employment in the poor rural areas skews the figures for the whole state. The Bush people have not helped these people, so I am sure they will vote for change.

If you have an education and want to live in one of the cities, I am sure you will find a job. If you have limited education, and want to live in the Pee Dee, you will have trouble.

This also affects school ratings. Schools in the cities often are Blue Ribbon schools, while the poor areas get terrible test scores. They need help in the poor areas. Perhaps raising the cigarette tax from 7 cents, the lowest in the nation, would help the schools.

[corruption]

Yeah, considering we are planning on moving to Columbia, it would really suck hard if we could not find a job.

[waccamatt]

Nausikaa is correct - there are 2 South Carolina's - urban and rural. Unemployment is very low in the big 3 metro areas, but very high in most rural areas. I know where I work we have trouble finding enough qualified people to fill positions, at times.

[waccamatt]

Originally Posted by corruption

Yeah, considering we are planning on moving to Columbia, it would really suck hard if we could not find a job.

What line of work will you be looking for a job?

[anonymous]

I agree with what's been said.

Rural areas, particularly those in the massive swamps around I-95, have been on an economic downward spiral for an extremely long time. Many of these areas like Clarendon, Lee, or Williamsburg County haven't known prosperity since before the Civil War.

As a whole, the state's unemployment has spiked recently because job growth has lagged behind population growth and domestic migration.

[corruption]

Originally Posted by waccamatt

What line of work will you be looking for a job?

We both would like clerical, secretarial, office type work.

[Slappy san]

Originally Posted by waccamatt

Nausikaa is correct - there are 2 South Carolina's - urban and rural. Unemployment is very low in the big 3 metro areas, but very high in most rural areas. I know where I work we have trouble finding enough qualified people to fill positions, at times.

Where do you work?