Fowler Calls on Sanford to Help Jobless

South Carolina's average annual jobless rate exceeded the nation's in 2008, once again worse than the rest of the nation's, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The BLS issued revisions Wednesday for its monthly jobless rates, but the changes did not affect overall trends that have left South Carolina with one of the highest jobless rates in the nation.

"From 1976 to 2003, South Carolina's average annual jobless rates exceeded the nation's by 1 percentage point or more only once – in 1983, a year of massive textile layoffs in Ware Shoals and elsewhere," said Carol Fowler, chair of the S.C. Democratic Party. "But under Gov. Sanford, South Carolina's jobless rate has been at least 1 percentage point worse every year since 2004."

"A fundamental shift in South Carolina's economy started well before the current recession. Yet our governor has offered no solutions; his job creation program seems to consist of calling for tax cuts for his wealthy friends. He's done his best to delay receiving federal stimulus funds that would help thousands of South Carolinians by preventing layoffs and creating jobs. While Mark Sanford flits around the country giving interviews, other governors are hard at work making plans to use those funds effectively."

"Sanford needs to get back on the job to help the 200,000 South Carolinians who are unemployed."