Gov. Haley Celebrates Another Drop in S.C. Unemployment

Rate falls to 8.9 percent; below 9.0 percent for first time since 2008 

COLUMBIA, SC – April 20, 2012 – Governor Nikki Haley today visited Stier Building Supply Company in Irmo to celebrate another drop in South Carolina’s unemployment rate. The state’s unemployment rate dropped to 8.9 percent in March, down from 9.1 percent in February. This is the eighth consecutive month the rate has declined and is the first time in more than three years that the rate has been below 9.0 percent. 

Gov. Haley said, “We bring great news today. It is a great day in South Carolina. Because we can now say that, as of March 2012, the unemployment number dropped for the eighth month in a row, and we are now looking at 8.9 percent, down from 9.1 percent. It has not been this low since 2008. We are moving in the right direction. But what really warms my heart is while we continue to focus on training, and we continue to focus on those who don’t have a job, we are bringing businesses in.

South Carolina is on fire.”Stier Supply owner John Stier said, “Thanks to Gov. Haley and Team South Carolina, we live in a great state with a growing economy and expanding job opportunities. What an amazing place to operate a small business. Gov. Haley is not only dedicated to recruiting new industries, but also providing a sensible regulatory environment for existing businesses like Stier Supply so we can flourish and hire more people…At Stier Supply, our slogan is, ‘we make it happen.’ Gov. Haley is making it happen in South Carolina.”