The unemployment rate in Georgetown County is now at 13 percent, which races past figures seen in the past several decades.
At least 3,691 people were unemployed when figures were released for September.
The number of people without jobs in Georgetown County in October was around 3,898, according to the most recent data from the S.C. Employment Security Commission.
The increase is due to the continual loss of manufacturing jobs, combined with a national economy that continues to sag.
“Anywhere on the Grand Strand, unemployment rates went up in October,’’ said Don Schunk, an economist with Coastal Carolina University.
“A bit of it is the loss of seasonal jobs, and it’s also because the labor market is continuing to weaken.”
Higher unemployment numbers were also seen in neighboring counties, he said.
The unemployment rate in Horry County went from 10.9 to 12.2 percent. Williamsburg County went from 15.2 to 16 percent unemployment.
While local officials believe that the Boeing plant in North Charleston will bring jobs, the plant is not scheduled to be built for several more years.
“We’re certainly hoping that Boeing plant will help, and we’re implementing a plan to go after their suppliers to get them here,’’ said Georgetown County Economic Director Wayne Gregory. “That won’t happen overnight.
“The expansion won’t occur until 2011. Things have been down over a year now, but we’re hopeful it will pick up soon.’’
Dredging port crucial
Port dredging is crucial to bringing the economy back online in Georgetown County, according to local officials.
Part of the port is silted in, which means larger ships cannot access the Port of Georgetown. More money is being sought for dredging in Georgetown.
“We need to get dredging,’’ Gregory said. “If we get the port dredged, then they have clients who will come here. We’ve never needed the business worse than we do now.’’
Increases in unemployment numbers were seen across the state, and nation, in October.
South Carolina went from 11.7 to 12.1 percent unemployment, Schunk said. Nationwide, the rate went from 9.8 to 10.2 percent.
Economists do not predict a bright holiday shopping season, and don’t believe there will be a large number of temporary workers hired this year.
Still very weak economy
“The big picture is, the economy is still very, very weak,’’ Schunk said. “It’s going to take a while before there is enough strength where businesses start to hire again.
“The loss of the steel mill and the loss of the income for the local economy and the spending that goes along with those jobs is playing a role in sending Georgetown’s unemployment rate higher. It’s the combination of the larger national trend, combined with some specific factors that are affecting Georgetown.”
He said families are “thinking over every purchase,” and maybe shopping online this year. “I see sales of Christmas shopping as being very weak,’’ Schunk said. “The day after Thanksgiving will be busy, but we’ve been seeing for the past several years, that there are relatively fewer actual purchases taking place. People are doing their shopping online, or doing their shopping the last few days before Christmas.”