South Carolina's unemployment rate fell to 9.9 percent in November, a 0.6 percent drop from last month's 10.5 percent rate.
This represents the largest monthly drop since 1976, the first year the Bureau of Labor Statistics made the monthly data series available.
The national unemployment rate also saw a significant decrease, from 9 percent in October to 8.6 percent in November.
"Through the efforts of the businesses in our state who have hired more South Carolinians, we have seen a significant decrease in the unemployment rate," said SC Department of Employment and Workforce Executive Director Abraham Turner.
The labor force was reduced by 4,750 from October to November; the number of those employed grew by 9,777, and the number of unemployed declined by 14,527. The labor force level was 2,164,970 in November. These figures indicate that some jobseekers have suspended job search activities.
Manufacturing employment increased by 900 from October to November and showed a very healthy gain of 10,800 since last year.
The industry with the largest month-to-month increase was Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, with 7,100 of that increase from Retail Trade.
Professional and Business Services had the second largest increase.
The expected seasonal decline in Leisure and Hospitality continued with a drop of 3,300 in the last month.
