SC Labor Dept. Cutting Jobs

The South Carolina Department of Workforce is cutting 136 jobs from its workforce, according to a morning news release.

The move is meant "to align its personnel to better reflect workforce service needs due to the elimination of federal funding for the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) and Extended Benefits (EB) programs."

The downsizing will begin this month and continue through June 2013 in locations throughout the state. It will take place in two phases.

Officials said that the hope is that the second phase of the program will occur through natural attrition.

“Today’s announcement is the result of difficult decisions. We have to align our workforce according to current and future projected funding streams,” said DEW Executive Director Abraham J. Turner. “Like most other states throughout the country, we are affected by a number of economic events including the reduction of federal funding due to the elimination of both the EUC and the EB programs.”

“As we move forward, I am confident that despite this difficult time, there will be no loss of services offered to fellow citizens and businesses across the state. Our commitment to reemployment efforts, good customer service and small businesses continues to be a high priority for our agency,” said Turner.