COLUMBIA (WACH, AP) -- South Carolina's unemployment rate has dropped slightly from 11.1 percent in August to 11.0 percent in September.
The 0.1 percent drop snaps the state's four month consecutive streak in which the unemployment rate rose.
South Carolina is still well above the national unemployment rate, which remains unchanged at 9.1 percent.
The Department of Employment and Workforce said Friday the 0.1 percent decline from August ends four months of increases in the jobless rate.
"This organization recognizes the impact it has on the lives of South Carolinians. We are working everyday to increase efficiency, streamline our processes and eliminate errors so that the men and women in our state can find a job." said SC Department of Employment and Workforce Executive Director Abraham Turner. “I am optimistic that employment in South Carolina will continue to improve.”
Marion County still had the state's highest unemployment rate at 19.8 percent in September, while Lexington County had the lowest jobless rate at 8 percent.
Here's how the rest of the counties across the Midlands fared:
| County | Unemployment Rate |
| Orangeburg | 15.9% |
| Clarendon | 15.5% |
| Lee | 14.0% |
| Calhoun | 13.6% |
| Fairfield | 12.2% |
| Sumter | 11.5% |
| Newberry | 10.5% |
| Kershaw | 9.8% |
| Aiken | 9.6% |
| Richland | 9.6% |
| Saluda County | 8.6% |
| Lexington | 8.1% |
Click here for the full report from SC DEW.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWACH