South Carolina unemployment falls, but tourism jobs vanish

[TomCADem]

Source: WBTV

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina’s unemployment picture has improved overall, with 20,000 people finding work and businesses reopening as they adjust to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But restaurants, hotels and other tourism businesses continue to struggle, having lost more jobs even in the height of the summer season, according to the August unemployment figures released Friday by the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce.

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But the main unemployment number conceals troubling trends. South Carolina lost another 2,800 leisure and hospitality jobs from July to August as more hotels and restaurants struggled in the ongoing pandemic.

In the past year, almost 56,000 hospitality jobs have disappeared in South Carolina — about 20% of the jobs in the tourism industry that drives the state’s economy.

Read more: https://www.wbtw.com/news/state-regional-news/south-carolina-unemployment-falls-but-tourism-jobs-vanish/

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This is interesting how the unemployment rate is going down even as many jobs simply vanish. Does this mean that while the unemployment rate can improve a bit, it will remain high because some jobs are gone as hospitality jobs simply disappear. The interesting thing is what happens as certain stop gaps begin to expire like limitations against evictions?

Also, given South Carolina's tourism industry, even if they loosen restrictions, will people flock back to places like Myrtle Beach given all the chaos of Trump's COVID-19 response?

[DFW]

1. I have been part of a gathering in SC for the last 20 years

It brought some serious revenue to the Charleston area every New Year. This will be the first time since 1980 that it has been called off, if it is. Usually we are reminded to reserve our hotel rooms in April. This year, nothing so far.

[Roy Rolling]

2. Trump Cultists

Cities that rely on tourism are devastated by the virus, and intimidated by Republicans who demand they relax COVID restrictions and expose businesses to lawsuits.

Small, tourism-related businesses in cities like New Orleans will simply go bankrupt and be replaced by overly-capitalized businesses.

That’s how vulture capitalism works. First, there must be dead bodies to pick over.

“Mission Accomplished”—Cult Capitalists

[SWBTATTReg]

3. Everybody is suffering from the lack of tourism. After all, who would want to travel in these...

uncertain times not knowing the history of a particular region of the US, and whether they practiced safety, w/ regards to the CV, i.e., masks, social distancing, etc.?

I would not travel either, and I kind of want to in a way, but the saner part of me says NO, stay home, in an environment I know and trust already (and plus those that if you do travel will feel safer if they too, don't have unknown strangers running around in their neighborhoods).

Be safe and careful all.