Initial unemployment claims continue to fall as local businesses reopen

According to  the SC Department of Employment and Workforce:

1,442 more people filed for unemplyment in Lexington County. last week.

2,583 filed in Columbia and Richland County

For the week ending May 9,  32,513 South Carolinians filed.

That's a decrease of 14,234 compared to the previous week’s count of 46,747.

 This 4-week trend correlates with the gradual transition to people reporting back to work,” said Dan Ellzey,of SCDEW.. 

Here are the numbers for all 46 SC counties:

Since March 15, 2020, SCDEW has paid more than $1.09 billion in a combination of state benefits,