Greenville Leader

Anderson County has set a record number for employment, boasting 89,383 residents employed as of November, according to S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce data. 

In a release Dec. 22, the county states the November 2.7% unemployment rate represents a decrease from the 2.9% recorded in October and marks the lowest rate observed since the onset of economic disruptions related to the pandemic. 

“One year ago, almost 4,500 of our friends and neighbors were unemployed due to the results of the pandemic,” County Council Chairman Tommy Dunn said in the release.  “I am thankful to announce today that number has declined by almost 50%. This stands as testimony to the resiliency of our local economy and, most especially, our people.”

This comes as the county’s unemployment rate peaked at 11.7% in May 2020. 

According to the release, the unemployment rate for South Carolina as a whole currently sits at 3.7%, stating that resiliency in the local economy can be largely attributed to the county’s ongoing commitment to economic development efforts, including the creation of 1,100 new jobs. 

Among economic developments, the release states the Gross Domestic Profit for private goods-producing industries in Anderson County increased by 35% over the last decade. The median household income also saw an increase of 36% over the same time span as the number of children living in poverty dropped significantly, by one-third.