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COLUMBIA, S.C. (WACH ./ AP) -- South Carolina's unemployment rate has dropped for the fourth straight month.

The state Department of Employment and Workforce says the jobless rate in November was 8.3 percent. That's down .3 percentage points from the October rate.

“South Carolina is on the move. We're headed in the right direction. But we can't stop now. We're pleased to see our state’s unemployment at a four year low, but we understand there is work to do for us to make sure that number continues to drop. And that's where our focus will be in the coming year," said Gov. Nikki Haley in a statement released Friday.

The number of people without jobs dropped by more than 6,000. The number of people who were working increased by nearly 10,000.

The unemployment rate has dropped 1.5 percentage points in the past year.

The national unemployment rate last month was down to 7.7 percent.

Employment in the retail sector increased by 5,500 workers with the holiday season. Government employment increased by 3,100 positions.

The tourism and hospitality industry lost about 2,200 jobs since October.

Marion County had the highest unemployment rate at 15.8 percent. Lexington County had the lowest rate at 6.3 percent.