Large drops in jobless rates

The Oconee and South Carolina jobless rates are dropping. The state’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate fell to 5.7% in February—from the January estimate of 6.4%. That decrease is termed significant for it’s the largest recorded one-month drop since 1976. The Oconee County decrease was even greater. In January, Oconee’s rate had rose to 7.2%. February saw 5.7%, identical to the rest of South Carolina. Oconee’s total workforce for February was 29,254. The number of those out of work who are still trying for new positions was 1,782.