Increase in Oconee joblessness

The Oconee County unemployment rate and claims filed in December inched up to 5.4% from November’s 5.2.  However, figures provided today from the Department of Employment and Workforce, showed a near 300 increase in the number of Oconeeans in the workforce.  Statewide, the jobless rate held at 5.5% in December, yet the number of people working grew by 10 thousand.  Anderson County, at 4.6%, enjoys one of the lower jobless rates in South Carolina.