Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made the following statement on South Carolina’s October unemployment numbers. “Governor Sanford’s decision to create jobs in South Carolina by lowering taxes and controlling the size of government will pay great dividends. South Carolina has a heavy manufacturing-based economy, and the manufacturing sector has been hit hard throughout the country. “The addition of 29,000 people to our labor force in the past two months is encouraging and the Governor’s policies of energizing the private sector will continue to pay dividends if we stay the course. South Carolina’s economy will only grow if the private sector has the tools and resources necessary to create jobs. That is the heart of Governor Sanford’s economic reform proposals. “I am convinced that Governor Sanford’s policies will be successful in allowing the private sector to create more jobs.” South Carolina was reported to have a 6.9 percent unemployment rate in October. The rate is due in large part to rapid growth in the state’s labor force. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, South Carolina’s labor force has increased by more than 29,000 people in the past two months- nearly the same growth as the previous 14 months combined. ####