SC to announce October unemployment numbers

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina officials are preparing to release the state’s unemployment rate for October.

The Department of Employment and Workforce said it will release the latest jobless figures Friday.

The September unemployment rate in South Carolina was 7.9 percent, marking the first time in five years the jobless rate had dipped below 8 percent. The national unemployment rate for September was 7.3 percent.

The federal government shutdown delayed the announcement of the September unemployment numbers until last week.