(AP) -- South Carolina's unemployment rate has fallen for the second time in two months.
The state Department of Employment and Workforce said Tuesday the state's jobless rate fell to 10.5 percent in October. That was the state's first decline between September and October in five years.
The rate was down from a revised rate of 10.9 percent in September, which was the state's first drop in four months. Still, that number was the fifth-highest unemployment rate in the nation.
In our area, Marion County has the highest unemployment rate and 18.5 percent, but it is no longer the highest in the state. Allendale County now has the high unemployment rate in the state.
Marlboro County is at 17.2 percent, Dillon at 14.6 percent and Darlington at 11.6 percent. Florence and Horry counties are both at 10.4 percent and Georgetown is right behind them at 10.2 percent.
The national rate dropped slightly from 9.1 percent to 9 percent.
Last week, the number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits for the first time each week fell to 388,000, its lowest point since April. The four-week average dropped below 400,000 for the first time in seven months.
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