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South Carolina’s unemployment rate continued to drop in January, according to statistics from the SC Dept. of Employment. However, the agency is concerned people who’re currently unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic aren’t doing enough to look for work.

The state Department of Employment and Workforce says the jobless rate dropped to 5.3%, which is down from 5.6% in December, but well above the 2.6% rate in January 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic started a year ago.

However, the number of job searches made by people collecting unemployment benefits are quite low.

This is partially because SCDOE suspended the requirements for a certain number of job searches when the pandemic started in March 2020, but will begin to enforce them again soon.

Gallo Winery said it’s willing to invest $400 million, and add 500+ jobs in Chester, SC last week. The company headquartered in Modesto, California was founded in 1933 and is the largest exporter of California wines. They’re also the largest family-owned winery in the United States. Some estimates say Gallo controls 30 percent of the wine industry globally.