South Carolina's January unemployment rate was was 9.3 percent, down 0.3 percentage points from December's revised rate of 9.6 percent, and was the sixth consecutive monthly decline.

The drop was mainly the result of an estimated 7,900 people leaving the labor force, according to the Department of Employment and Workforce. The number of employed persons over the month remained virtually the same at 1,951,314. The number of unemployed persons was estimated at 200,190, the lowest level since November 2008. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell to 8.3 percent in January.

Typically, December-to-January trends depict a loss of jobs. In January 2012, that was also the case.

There was a decrease of 29,000 private jobs and a loss of 4,300 government jobs. Retail Trade declined 8,300 as temporary help was released after the holiday season. Other declines were reported in Professional and Business Services (-5,800), Leisure and Hospitality (-5,000), and Construction (-2,000). Manufacturing showed little change for the month (+100).

Despite a monthly loss, the state's job growth showed an increase of 29,900 jobs over the year. Leading the job growth annually were Manufacturing (+11,700); Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+6,700); Leisure and Hospitality (+6,200); and Professional and Business Services (+5,600).

"As I've stated in the past, the continued decline in the unemployment rate is something for South Carolinians to be excited about, and we know from the SC Works system that the jobs are out there," said SC Department of Employment and Workforce Executive Director Abraham J. Turner in a press release. "It is incumbent upon us, however, to continue to work diligently with businesses to identify the skills necessary to match jobseekers to those jobs."