Employment and Workforce Executive Director Dan Ellzey’s Statement (March 2021)

Columbia, SC – “Today’s release shows another slow and steady drop in the state’s unemployment rate, marking the third month of decline from 5.6% in December 2020 to 5.1% in March 2021. We continue to be encouraged by the progress being made in the state’s economic recovery as more South Carolinians head back to work,” said S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce Executive Director, Dan Ellzey.

“Over the past few months, we have moved our focus to filling the open and posted jobs in the state. At this point in time, there are 85,000 jobs posted by employers in the state of South Carolina. Meanwhile, we have approximately 116,000 people receiving unemployment benefits each week. That really does not make sense, and we have to get people to start looking for jobs. At the beginning of the pandemic, when the economic and business environments were in a state of crisis, the agency waived the work search requirement, which is part of state regulation, to allow individuals and employers to navigate through COVID-19. However, it is now time to reactivate the work search,” continued Ellzey.

“On April 18, 2021, DEW will reinstate the two weekly work search requirements for claimants. Each week, claimants will need to complete two tasks to remain eligible for UI benefits:

1. Complete two work searches in their SC Works Online Services (SCWOS) account or the SCWOS app.
2. Certify their claim in the MyBenefits portal or on the SC DEW app.

If a claimant can certify their claim each week, they can complete the work searches in SCWOS. The technology requirements are the same and both can be accessed on a computer or through the free smartphone apps,” stated Ellzey. 

“Finding the right job takes time. Completing these work searches by viewing two available job postings in SCWOS is a great way to see what’s available in the job market and who’s hiring. We have been very proactive and direct with claimants about the work search, communicating for weeks and sending resources* to help them conduct the work search so they understand how to do it, confirm that it registered in the system and ask questions and get help before the requirement begins. This positive habit provides valuable insight into what is available so claimants can find that right fit. We have made it clear to claimants, that if they do not perform the two work searches for a claim week, they will not be paid unemployment benefits. It is as simple as that. We believe this positive step forward will bring employers and job seekers together,” continued Ellzey.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

1. For a better understanding of how the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics utilizes trained Census Bureau employees to capture critical labor force data each month, you can read the full PDF explanation here: https://www.bls.gov/cps/cps_htgm.pdf.
2. Work search resources can be found on dew.sc.gov as well as the SC DEW YouTube page. Please find links to some of these resources below.

SC DEW YouTube Video: Click link for How to register for SC Works Online Service (SCWOS)                                       

PDF Tutorial: How To Complete The Work Search: Click here for document or follow path on the website: dew.sc.gov -> Individuals Menu -> Find a Job -> Click “SCWOS Weekly Job Searches PDF Tutorial”

Find a Job and work search resource page can be visited here.