S.C. Unemployment Dips Again

South Carolina's persistently high unemployment rate has fallen for the sixth month in a row, according to January labor statistics released Tuesday.

At 9.3 percent, the unemployment rate was at its lowest level since November 2008, but it is still significantly higher than the 8.3 percent national unemployment rate, and statistics show that many job sectors shed jobs from December to January.

The .3 percentage point decrease from December was due mainly to the result of an estimated 7,900 people leaving the labor force, according to the Department of Employment an Workforce.

Every job sector, sans manufacturing and natural resources and mining, lost jobs in January.

December-to-January employment figures typically reflect jobs lost following the holiday season. So while there were routine job loss numbers in January, the decline in unemployment, despite that, was seen as a positive trend.

“The continued decline in the unemployment rate is something for South Carolinians to be excited about, and we know from the SC Works system that the jobs are out there,” said Department of Employment and Workforce Executive Director Abraham J. Turner.

On Facebook, Gov. Nikki Haley praised the news. She is traveling the state today promoting her efforts to reduce taxes for job creators. She speaks at 3:30 p.m. in North Charleston at Banks Construction Company.

"Nothing motivates us more than to continue to fight for tax relief and a competitive business environment like seeing this number drop," Haley said. "We are going to keep fighting for tax relief that creates jobs so that everyone that wants a job has a job."