SC jobless rate hits 9.5% (Charleston, Lancaster: 2009, unemployment rate, construction)

[Luvsdabeach]

Some counties in SC are in the upper teens.

Jobless rate hits 9.5%

[mrpeatie]

Unfortunately I think it will get worse. I think it is fairly telling that the jobs lost in business/professional services is larger than Hospitality and construction combined. This isn't just one area of the eonomy tanking like some seem to believe. I am surprised the government number hadn't dereased I have heard about layoffs from several state agencies here in Charleston. Also MUSC and the local schools are discussing cutting positions so I would assume they have to show up somewhere.

[Geechie North]

Wow!

We're in the 6% range up here and it's scary.

Since the UE rate captures only 50% of the truly unemployed, that means the true SC rate is approx. 18%.

[Buckeye in SC]

Originally Posted by Geechie North

Wow!

We're in the 6% range up here and it's scary.

Since the UE rate captures only 50% of the truly unemployed, that means the true SC rate is approx. 18%.

The 3 major metros are all among the lowest counties(between 6.5 - 8% I believe). The problem SC has is it's rural counties really drag it's number down (or up in this case). If you look at the table, a couple counties are in the 18-19% range, yikes! There was a good editorial in the State here yesterday about the need to help those areas economically as even in good times those rural counties unemployment rates stay in the double digits.

[Geechie North]

If "low" is 6.5% (That's 13% in real terms) vs the approx 4-5% (8-10% reality) here, then standby for the Bastille to be stormed.

[Mrs. P]

yeah well....here's one for you all...Wilmington Ohio where DHL had it's American headquarters.
DHL is pulling out of the USA entirely. 6 out of 10 people in Wilmington work directly / indirectly with DHL, Wilmington will have a 60% unemployment rate for their county.
It's not a big town but still, the town will basically about fold up.

My company today, (located in Charlotte)had another 25 people let go, even after they told us 2 months ago they were finished with laying off....They had actually hired 3 people a month ago, and let everyone of them go today. Why do that to people???

[Mrs. P]

Originally Posted by Buckeye in SC

The 3 major metros are all among the lowest counties(between 6.5 - 8% I believe). The problem SC has is it's rural counties really drag it's number down (or up in this case). If you look at the table, a couple counties are in the 18-19% range, yikes! There was a good editorial in the State here yesterday about the need to help those areas economically as even in good times those rural counties unemployment rates stay in the double digits.

Agreed, in my area of SC not one of my neighbors is laid off....so far.
However a county South, Lancaster? way over 12 %. Then again where I live most of us work in NC (charlotte) so, not sure how those figures get figured up....in the NC % or the SC %? Since the claims would be filed with NC for the unemployment, then SC would not be aware correct?

So for the people on border states, the figures are not accurate I'd say.

[Geechie North]

Note the 4-5% I refer to is the rate for the major metros up here (Madison, Fox Cities, Green Bay, Wausau). Milwaukee and that Racine-Kenosha corridor way down south have higher rates.

6% overall for state as a whole.

Climbing as is everywhere else in US.

[Charleston Class]

Originally Posted by Mrs. P

yeah well....here's one for you all...Wilmington Ohio where DHL had it's American headquarters.
DHL is pulling out of the USA entirely. 6 out of 10 people in Wilmington work directly / indirectly with DHL, Wilmington will have a 60% unemployment rate for their county.
It's not a big town but still, the town will basically about fold up.

My company today, (located in Charlotte)had another 25 people let go, even after they told us 2 months ago they were finished with laying off....They had actually hired 3 people a month ago, and let everyone of them go today. Why do that to people???

Mrs. P, I totally undertand what you're saying. Where I work, the same thing is occuring. I used to have four people working in the cube around me, I am the only one remaining. We had formed our own "family" within the workplace, because we all worked together for so long and looked out for each other. It is disheartening and unnerving to say the least when I go to work now. All decisons were "performance based". I'm grateful to still have my job, but I work all day wondering..will they walk me out today? I 've witnessed HR do this four times within the last 1 1/2 months to people I know!

[usc_gal98]

It's sad, it really is.

What I can't understand is how SC is pushing for 1-73 in our area. I know it will bring jobs and revenue but I think the money would be better spent for the unemployment funding crisis we are facing and to fix the existing roads in SC. JMO.