SC Unemployment

Shamund Peters
April 22, 2009
Filed under Archives, News

Students are noticing and talking about the economy. In February 2000, South Carolina’s unemployment rate was at 3.6%.  Nine years later, South Carolina’s unemployment rate has hit 11%. “During the Great Depression era the unemployment rate hit 25%” said Mr. Martin, a U.S History and Leadership teacher at Brashier Middle College Charter High School. In some parts of South Carolina right now the unemployment rate is around 25%.

 “I have to save up more money if I’m going to buy a car” said Lydia Wallwork, a Junior at BMC. Students have noticed that jobs come and go in today’s society. Stores such as Circuit City, Walker’s Furniture and Mattress on North Pleasantburg Drive, Steve and Barry’s on Haywood Road, and BJ’s on Woodruff Road closed down due to the economy situation. Since more stores are closing, more people are being laid off.

Unemployment is increasing everyday. Currently in the news, the auto company GM is desperately in need of President Obama’s bail out money. “Some companies don’t want to take the bail out money because the Government is going to want more in return,” said Mike Sinclair, BMC’s Principal. “If the auto companies accept the bail out money, then the government will basically have control over the business, which will then not fit into our democratic government,” said Ethan Mabbit, a Junior at BMC.