Flickr user Nathalie Babineau-Griffiths

The unemployment rate was released late Tuesday and, with much fanfare, dropped below 10% for the first time in 2 years but Myrtle Beach is above average at 11.1% for March 2011.

Unsurprisingly, a lot of this can be attributed to the tourism related industries gearing up for Spring breaks and the pending Summer season. Which means a lot of part-time and low hourly wage positions.

Dawn Bryant and Adva Salinger of The Sun News report on exactly how many jobs the hospitality and retail industries added; read their story here.

• View the complete report released by S.C. D.E.W. here (pdf)
• You can follow the South Carolina Department of Employment on Twitter