The Pee Dee's unemployment rate went from 8.7 percent to 9 percent. Unemployment rates increased in the seven Pee Dee counties -- Florence, Darlington, Marion, Marlboro, Dillon, Williamsburg and Chesterfield -- but by no more than 0.6 percent. Dillon County's unemployment rose the least, 0.1 percent, while Williamsburg, Marlboro and Darlington saw the highest increases. Florence County's rate was the Pee Dee's lowest at 6.8 percent, which was still above the state average. Darlington was second lowest with 7.3 percent. The state's unemployment rate, which has been fluctuating around 6 percent, ebbed to 5.9 percent in March before rising to 6.1 percent in April. South Carolina's number of nonfarm jobs grew by 8,300 in April, 3,700 less than the average for April during the past 10 years. The state's economy has stagnated, said Sam McClary of the state Employment Security Commission. "We're not getting worse; we're not getting better," he said. The recent recession and Operation Iraqi Freedom created uncertainty that changed spending habits and brought the economy to a standstill, McClary said. Consumer confidence, however, has improved according to a state Employment Security Commission study, he said. Construction jobs decreased by 600 in April, and manufacturing cut 300 workers. During the past 12 months, 11,700 manufacturing workers in South Carolina lost their jobs. After more tourists began visiting the state, a bulk of the nonfarm job increase came from leisure and hospitality; nearly 70 percent of the growth happened in food service and drinking places. Education and health services increased their work force by 900 employees. Retail trade employment, which typically jumps about 1,200 in April, did not change.
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