COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- South Carolina's jobless rate edged up to 5.9 percent in April, and state officials predict rising gas prices could mean for a rocky summer employment picture.

The Employment Security Commission said Friday that South Carolina's unemployment rose two-tenths of a percent last month.

South Carolina's jobless rate remained higher than the national rate, which dropped one-tenth of a percent in April, to 5 percent.

The construction sector continued a six-month slide, loosing 2,400 jobs last month. The commission said jobs in that industry are down 7,300 from a year ago.

Beaufort, Charleston and Lexington counties all rated the state's lowest jobless rate, at 3.9 percent. Allendale County's
rate remained the highest, at 13.5 percent.

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