Slammed.

That’s how Dixie Waldrop describes the unemployment situation.

Waldrop works specifically with unemployment at the S.C. Works office in Newberry and says that, lately, the Newberry office has been busy.

Unemployment in the state just rose to 9.1 percent for May after a stable 10 months at 8.8 percent.

In Newberry, Waldrop points out that during the summer months, the unemployment percentage rises because college students who had jobs go back home and holiday hours change. Also, around the Christmas holiday period is when there’s a decrease in unemployment. After the holidays are over, unemployment rises once again.

While unemployment varies around the state, Newberry is on the lower end of the unemployment spectrum at 8.1 percent this past April and 8.2 percent this past March.

That’s actually an improvement considering that Newberry’s unemployment was at 9.4 percent April 2011.

As of April this year, Newberry is ranked at number 34 out of 46 counties.

The top three most popular non-farming jobs in May this year were trade, transportation and utilities; government and professional and business services.

While government and information jobs were up, there was still a decrease and the only other decrease was in manufacturing jobs for May 2012. All other sectors experienced gains.

So while unemployment in Newberry is not the worst, it’s still a fact.

People are looking for jobs.

The process may seem daunting to some as Waldrop explains that there is a certain time period the the unemployed person must wait upon to hear how much in benefits they may receive and what kind.

In order to receive unemployment benefits, one may have quite, been laid off or fired or discharged.

If someone is fired or discharged, Waldrop explains the there must be verification from the former employer. If the former employer disagrees with the discharged employee in any way, the fired employee may appeal. However, they must all meet and come to some sort of compromise.

The maximum time of eligibility is 20 weeks for a state claim and every situation differs depending on the reason for unemployment.

All cases are different, she says.

However, what’s not different is the fact that there is help available.

The Newberry S.C. Works center has workshops and resume assistance as well as on-the-job training. There are also other private, unemployment agencies such as Gallman Personnel in Newberry whose job it is to help people find jobs.

The S.C. Works has workshops every month with different topics that vary month to month.

However, once a claim is made either online or over the phone, the unemployed person must make at least four contacts each week and record their progress. Everything is done over the phone or online.

One thing that will be ending, as of now, by December 2012 is the federal extension availability for the unemployed, according to Waldrop.