Oconee’s descending jobless rate

Between June and July, the Oconee County unemployment rate fell about one-half of one percentage point. It’s now 8.7%, according to a report today from the state Department of Employment and Workforce. Like the state as a whole, the Oconee rate over the last year has fallen by more than a full percentage point. The state reported the county had a labor force in July of 31, 802. At 8.7% unemployment, Oconee ranks about midway on the list of the state’s 46 counties with Marion, once again, the highest at 15.2% and Lexington, once again, the lowest at 6.2%.