Oconee finished July with 4.5% jobless rate

Figures from the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce indicate Oconee County finished the month of July with an unemployment rate of 4.5%, or 1,542 members of the county workforce out of work but actively looking to be re-employed.  At the same time, the county’s labor force for July numbered 34,546.  As is often the case, Oconee’s two South Carolina neighbors—Anderson, at 4% unemployment, and Pickens, at 3.8%, enjoyed smaller jobless rate.  July’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in South Carolina was 4.3%.  The lowest unemployment:  Saluda and Lexington counties, both with 3.3 percentages.  The highest unemployment rate was Bamberg County at 8.9%.