Unemployment claims spike in SC. Here’s the latest for York, Lancaster, Chester.
A 1,600% spike in state unemployment claims didn’t spare York, Lancaster and Chester counties.
On Thursday morning the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce released data on intrastate unemployment insurance claims for the week ending March 21. Throughout South Carolina there were more than 31,000 claims. That figure jumped dramatically from 1,996 claims the prior week.
Intrastate claims involved people who live and work in South Carolina. York County residents filed 1,404 such claims, seventh highest in the state. Horry and Charleston counties led the state, followed by Greenville and Richland. Lancaster County had 307 claims. Chester County had 153.
Those intrastate claims only tell part of the story in the tri-county area.
Employment and workforce department data shows 58% of workers in its Catawba region, made up of the same three counties, both live and work within it. Another 29% life in the tri-county area but commute to work outside it. Almost 13% travel into the area for work.
Of people who live here but commute outside the area for work, 75% of them travel to Mecklenburg County in North Carolina. Much of the homebuilding interest in recent years for high-growth areas like Fort Mill, Tega Cay and Lake Wylie stems from their proximity to jobs in Charlotte.
Statewide, South Carolina had 772 interstate unemployment insurance claims for the week ending March 21. Those claims represent South Carolina residents who filed claims — or previously worked — in another state. The 772 claims are an increase of 800% in a week.
The workforce department has an all-online process now for claim filing, due to the COVID-19 coronavirus impact. The department set up a coronavirus information resource hub to guide potential filers through the process.
For more information, visit dew.sc.gov/covid-hub.
Anyone in need of services can call 377-8147 in Chester County, 285-6966 in Lancaster County and 328-3881 in York County. More information on the Catawba service area is available online at scworkscatawba.com.
