April unemployement figures down locally, statewide

South Carolina’s unemployment rate has hit a nearly five-year low while jobless rates in York, Chester and Lancaster Counties all dropped in April.

Figures from the Department of Employment and Workforce show that the state’s rate fell from 8.4 percent in March to eight percent in April. The last time South Carolina’s unemployment rate was that low was October 2008.

York County’s jobless rate decreased a full percentage point to 8.9 percent.  Chester County’s rate also dropped a full percentage point last month to 11.2 percent.  Lancaster County’s rate slipped .6 percent to 9.6 percent.

The number of people working in the Palmetto State last month rose by more than 2,900.