COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -The announcement comes after nine consecutive months of improvement. The state's jobless rate was 8.8 percent in April. That's down from 10.5 percent last July and the lowest it's been in more than three years.
The rate peaked at 12 percent in December 2009 before beginning a steady decline.
In April, Marion County continued to post the state's highest unemployment rate at 16.8 percent. Greenville County had the lowest rate at 7 percent.
The federal government reported earlier this month that the national unemployment rate for May was 8.2 percent, up slightly from April's 8.1 percent.
For more on the jobless rate, click here.
