South Carolina’s jobless rate decreases again

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Unemployment in South Carolina has decreased for the second month in a row.

The Department of Employment and Workforce said Friday that the state’s jobless rate was 6.4 percent in July. That’s down from 6.6 percent in June.

Nationally, the unemployment rate was unchanged from June, at 5.3 percent. That figure represented a seven-year low.

From July 2014 to July 2015, state officials say South Carolina’s employment level has increased by more than 59,000. The number of unemployed has increased by 3,800.

Over the past year, the labor force has grown by more than 63,000 people.

In the last month, hospitality jobs grew by 2,100. The trade, transportation and utilities sector went up by 1,500 jobs.

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Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP