State, county unemployment spikes

South Carolina's unemployment rate jumped half of one percent in June, The South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce announced Friday.

Greenville County's unemployment rate jumped nearly one percent from 8.5 percent in May to 9.4 in June.

The state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased from 10 percent in May to 10.5 percent in June despite marked employment increases in manufacturing and construction. 

According to Friday's report, the state's non-farm payroll employment increased by 3,300 jobs in a month's time on the strength of manufacturing and other jobs, but those gains were offset by losses in the government, education and health service sectors. 

“Even given the normal summer spike in unemployment, the rate is still reflective of what is going on at the national level. However, we expect this will improve in the future as businesses and jobs continue to come to South Carolina.” said DEW Executive Director John Finan.

Overall, Greenville County is estimated to have accounted in June for some 21,000 of the more than quarter-million unemployed people in the state - a rate that remains one of the lowest in South Carolina.

The report indicates that according to the Conference Board’s Help Wanted Online Index, online postings of job openings decreased by 1,580 positions last month. Though there was a decline, South Carolina fared better than neighboring states, with North Carolina experiencing 7,800 fewer postings and Georgia experiencing 7,000 fewer postings.