Richland, Lexington County Unemployment Rates Drop Slightly

By Lindsay Street and Tiffany Barkley.

The unemployment rates in Lexington and Richland counties dropped slightly in July, according to the latest numbers released by the S.C. Department of Employment Workforce. 

Richland County's unemployment rate decreased to 7.9 percent in July — down from 8.4 percent reported in June. Lexington County's decreased to 6.2 percent in July — down from 6.9 percent reported in June. 

The rates for Richland and Lexington counties are more promising than the statewide rate, which remained unchanged at 8.1 percent from June. Over the year, the statewide rate has dropped by more than a full percentage point. 

There were 174,267 unemployed South Carolinians in July and an estimated total labor force of 2,161,966. The number of employed South Carolinians slid to 1,987,699, decreasing by 4,084 since June. 

Nationally, the unemployment rate declined to 7.4 percent from June’s estimate of 7.6 percent.