Employment numbers booming for S.C., Ga. and the nation

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Whereas South Carolina’s unemployment fee continues a modest downward pattern, the Georgia and nationwide jobless charges reached a file low, in keeping with the most recent statistics.

South Carolina

The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment fee fell a tenth of some extent from March’s 3.4% to three.3, the Division of Employment and Workforce mentioned. New figures state the variety of folks getting jobs rose by 9,017 final month and the full variety of unemployed employees within the state fell by 1,571.

“As well as, wages proceed to develop. Prior to now yr, wages in South Carolina have risen 4.38%, from $26.70 in April 2021 to $27.87 in April 2022,” company Government Director Dan Ellzey mentioned.

Ellzey mentioned the highest problem employers face stays having the ability to discover sufficient employees. However he mentioned the second-biggest problem is that younger people who find themselves coming into the workforce lack satisfactory “gentle expertise.”

“Our company acknowledges that predicament and we provide packages to show people gentle expertise. We’re additionally main an initiative to provide you with a statewide gentle expertise certification,” Ellzey mentioned.

Gentle expertise sometimes embrace traits like communication, teamwork and problem-solving expertise.

Georgia

Georgia’s unemployment fee continued to hover at a file low of three.1% in April as extra folks continued to seek out jobs. The jobless fee was unchanged from March, when it set a brand new all-time low.

Additionally, Georgia’s variety of jobs is at an all-time excessive of 4,765,500, up 19,000 from March to April and up 252,000 over the yr.

The state set a brand new all-time excessive variety of employed Georgians of 5,106,584, up 20,516 in April. The labor drive was at an all-time excessive of 5,267,469, up 16,337 over the month, and the variety of unemployed was down 4,179 to 160,885, the bottom determine since June 2001.

A yr in the past, 4.3% of Georgia employees had been unemployed. The variety of employees on employer payrolls rose by 18,000 in Georgia in April, reaching 4.76 million.

That’s 250,000 above payroll ranges final yr and set a brand new all-time excessive for the fifth straight month. The nationwide unemployment fee stayed degree from March to April at 3.6%.

Georgia’s commerce and transportation sector has exceeded 1 million jobs for the primary time within the state’s historical past.

Gaining 11,600 jobs in April, the sector has rebounded from an 88,500-job deficit in April 2020. Greater than half one million of those jobs come from the retail commerce sector, together with Walmart, Kroger, Dwelling Depot and Publix – the most important retailers in Georgia. Retail commerce was one of many high 5 sectors hit the toughest throughout the pandemic dropping nearly 65,000 jobs on the peak of COVID-19.

Different sectors with essentially the most over-the-year job positive aspects embrace lodging and meals providers, 37,700; administrative and assist providers, 37,200; retail commerce, 24,800; skilled, scientific and technical providers, 23,400; transportation and warehousing, 22,200; well being care and social help, 19,600; and wholesale commerce, 15,700.

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