While South Carolina’'s unemployment rate rose for the 13th consecutive month in March to 11.4 percent, tying a 26-year record, Edgefield County’s unemployment rate has been steadily dropping over the past few months.

In figures released Friday by the State Employment Security Commission, Edgefield County’s

unemployment rate was 9.9 percent, down from 10.9 in February, and 11.1 in January.
The state unemployment rate was up from a revised 10.9 percent in February and was well above the national rate of 8.5 percent. South Carolina fell from second to third in the nation, now trailing Michigan at 12.6 percent and Oregon at 12.1 percent.

On a national level, 13 million people were jobless in the United States last month. 

Teresa Carpenter is one of those who make up the unemployment figures for Edgefield County. She works for Milliken & Co. and was in the recent lay-off.
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"I'’m being constantly rotated out,"” she said. "“This is April and this is the third week I’ve worked this year.” She is also returning to work from an injury where she broke her collar bone."
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"It'’s hard,” she said. “"All I can do is file an extension on my unemployment and keep looking for another job.” A man who did not wish to be identified said he resigned his job and has since tried to do self-employment."
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"It'’s been kind of hard,"” he said. "“I do get some income from working on the Internet. I also use the computers to look up job listings.” Everyone is scared of the recession," he said, "and rightly so, but he is optimistic that things will turn around soon."
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"I think it'’ll get better if the media will help out,” he said. “And if people will not panic. That’s the main thing.” Like these two, many wonder what they can do to help assure that they will find gainful employment.

Joan Burgess, director of the One-Stop Workforce Center, said the Greenwood Workforce Center serves Edgefield and Greenwood counties with the Workforce Development Act for the Upper Savannah Council of Governments.
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"We provide a range of services in Edgefield County,”" she said. "“The Edgefield County One-Stop Workforce Center is located at 400 Church Street in Edgefield and offers job searches on the computer, career information, resume writing software and the WIN lab for practicing for Work Keys testing.” Burgess said workshops are presented twice a week to assist with a job search for those who are out of work or changing jobs. The workshops are free."
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"We'’d like to see more people take advantage of it,"” she said. "“We want to let people know it’s there. These services keep one better prepared for employment.”"

A Networkers Job Club Group meets every Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the One-Stop Center and on April 28, a representative from WelVista, a program to help with free prescriptions, will be there.
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"People can meet, they have speakers and employers, also the staff from One-Stop,"” said Burgess.

A Workforce Investment Information Session is offered on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. at Edgefield, she said.
“The Workforce Investment Act offers opportunities for upgrading your skills or furthering your education from GED or going on to college, in some cases four-year schools, for eligible people,” she said.

Representatives from the S.C. Employment Security Commission are at the Edgefield Center on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., taking applications to file for unemployment.
The Center is open Monday through Thursdays, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

PHOTO: Teresa Carpenter uses the computers at OneStop Workforce Center to locate job openings. She is being rotated out of her job at Milliken & Co.