Despite there being 3,000 fewer people in Horry County’s workforce in October versus September, an increase of just 115 in the number of unemployed caused the county to be one of three in South Carolina where the unemployment rate rose during October.
According to figures released Friday by the state Department of Employment and Workforce, Horry’s unemployment rate rose from 6.6 percent in September to 6.8 percent in October. The rate was 7.7 percent in October 2013 when the workforce was even smaller and the number of unemployed nearly 1,000 over the 8,903 DEW said were out of work this October.
Georgetown County, where the workforce is more than four times smaller than Horry’s, had an October unemployment rate of 6.5 percent, 0.1 point below its September number, DEW reported.
Georgetown’s rate was 7.4 percent in October 2013.
The statewide rate, which unlike local rates is seasonally adjusted, rose 0.1 point in October to 6.7 percent jobless.
Horry’s higher rate undoubtedly reflects the seasonal drop in tourism jobs.
Statewide, DEW said the leisure and hospitality industry saw the highest loss of jobs, shedding 2,200 during October.
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