Jobless rate descends in OC and SC

Oconee County’s unemployment rate for February stood at 9%—eight-tenths of a percentage point below January’s rate. And the workforce was stronger across the state, as well. The Department of Employment and Workforce’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate in South Carolina decreased to 8.6% in February from January’s rate of 8.7%. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell from 7.9% in January to 7.7% in February. At more than 1.9 million, the number of employed persons in the Palmetto State reached its highest level since August 2008. Oconee’s numbers for February were 28,795 employed; 2,851 out of work but actively looking for work.