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Politics

Unemployment Rate Continues to Drop in Florida

June 15, 2018 - 10:30am
Rick Scott
Rick Scott

With 19,000 new private sector jobs created in May, the state unemployment rate dropped to 3.8 percent, Gov. Rick Scott announced on Friday. 

In April, the unemployment rate stood at 3.9 percent in Florida. A year ago, it stood at 4.2 percent. Those figures mirror the national unemployment rate which dropped from 3.9 percent to 3.8 percent from April to May. Despite that, Florida has an annual job growth rate of 2.4 percent over the past year compared to 1.9 percent at the national level. 

Scott pointed to almost 180,000 new jobs over the past year and more than 1.5 million created under his watch. 

“Florida’s growing economy is producing real results for families across our state,” Scott said on Friday. “Every month, private-sector businesses are adding jobs, dropping our unemployment, making it easier for every Floridian to find great work. When I became governor, I set out to create an environment where our private sector could flourish – and that remains my focus as we continue to outpace the nation. It’s clear – cutting taxes and investing in what matters to families works, and the rest of the country should take notice.”

Professional and business services have led the way in job growth with 39,200 new jobs in Florida over the past year, followed by 37,200 new jobs in the leisure and hospitality sector, 31,300 new construction jobs and 24,500 new education and health services jobs. The only industry that lost jobs in Florida over the past year has been in the information sector which has seen the loss of 2,200 jobs in that time. 

In May, Okaloosa and St. Johns counties had the state’s lowest unemployment rate at 2.6 percent each followed by Monroe county where it stood at 2.7 percent and Walton County at 2.8 percent.

Hendry and Sumter counties had the highest unemployment rate in the state last month at 5 percent last month followed by Citrus County at 4.8 percent and Putnam County at 4.5 percent.

Cissy Proctor, the executive director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, cheered the continued job growth on Friday. 

“Florida’s economy is thriving under Governor Scott’s leadership and through our efforts to grow and attract businesses,” Proctor said. “Our talented workforce and quality infrastructure support continued economic prosperity in the Sunshine State. Since 2010, more than 1.5 million jobs have been created showing the nation that Florida is the best state in the nation to live the American Dream.”

Comments

Could we please add one guy in a Navy ballcap to the ranks of the unemployed? Cobbling 2 or even 3 part time jobs together with no benefits to barely get by is hardly a decent way to make a living.

MY GOODNESS!!!...Just LOOK at this angry, expansive, vindictive, attack verbiage, written below, by a "dismissed" lawyer. I'm not a "member of the bar" either (tho I've sidled up to a few) so don't bother trying to find me. I think you should try "expanding your circles" Ms. Bronhard; there doesn't seem to be much sympathy in your present "circle". You might want to try "Notary" (real estate closings) work, or "Welcome to Walmart !", or "political Office" (where ALL sub-standard JD's seem to end up looking for a recently vacated "government mammary" attachment)... Good luck searching for your "start at the top" dream job....If You're certain that you want to give up your "unemployment checks"..!

I described my past experiences with several of Rick Scott's administration. One, it was inappropriate for Patrick Cunningham to state that I could only receive my cash value of vacation monies if I signed a resignation letter. He lied. The Administrative Code states separated (resigned or terminated). A member of a state agency as Department of Business and Professional Regulation should not lie or trick someone into signing a resignation letter under false statements. Wow, this may be difficult for you to comprehend that this behavior was wrong. It was also wrong for another Agency, Department of Economic Opportunity to state via hiring committee when I complained that applying twice for a position re-advertised is dishonest behavior, it is not. Their rationale is wrong. Someone who applies twice is only displaying a continued interest. My other comment, I don't believe the unemployment rate being cited represents someone like myself, who is no longer receiving unemployment checks. When someone passes the point of no longer unemployment checks, how is the State tracking the remaining still unemployed. I don't believe there are. This is the reason, I don't believe the unemployment rate reflects the total number of unemployed persons seeking employment. I am describing my past experiences with his administration. I do believe I have been discriminated against based on age, gender and political discrimination.

As an attorney, still unemployed after having been fired by Rick Scott at the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. They tried to get me to sign resignation letter, I refused claiming I couldn't get my cash value of unused vacation money without signing resignation letter. I still refused, because Patrick Cunningham, lied and the Administrative Code used the word separated (means terminated or resigned, etc). I said I couldn't claim unemployment if I signed resignation letter. Patrick said they wouldn't fight me on it. I said you can't claim terminated with DEO if you sign resignation letter. I refused to get set up for fraud claim. While Rick Scott boasts about himself regarding low unemployment, the reality is, someone like myself who only received $3300 in unemployment monies, about three months of $275 per week, is no-longer being counted as unemployed since he cut benefits and shortened how long someone can collect. There is no reporting State agency that tracks the high number of still unemployed that no longer collect benefits, as such, the low unemployment number is not reality based. In addition, I have had a parade of interviews over 21 with no employment offers. When I receive a rejection letter on a prior job, then I have another interview pending, leaving me in limbo, over and over. While Rick Scott has been Governor, I have not be able to obtain State employment for nearly 7 years, with a very short period of employment only 9 months. Regarding Cissy Proctor, her staff would not extend an offer to a female attorney over age 40 (52 years old) with 25 years licensed attorney, 15 years documented experience as a lawyer and instead hired a White male with only one year experience over me for an Appeals Hearing Officer. When I complained, they accused me of being dishonest because I reapplied for the same position three months later so they would know I was still interested. Since People First doesn't accept a second application, I created the same application with another email address having my entire name in it. Cissy Proctor's staff claimed this was dishonest. Her staff makes no rationale argument for discriminating against someone. I used an email address with my entire name on it, I didn't hide I was the same person. It was three months later, I only tried to show I was still interested in the position, this is not dishonest behavior. Cissy Proctor is a disgrace and she is only committed to her own agenda.

As an attorney, still unemployed after having been fired by Rick Scott at the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. They tried to get me to sign resignation letter, I refused claiming I couldn't get my cash value of unused vacation money without signing resignation letter. I still refused, because Patrick Cunningham, lied and the Administrative Code uses the word separated (means terminated or resigned, etc). I said I couldn't claim unemployment if I signed resignation letter, Patrick sign they wouldn't fight it. You can't claim terminated with DEO if you sign resignation letter. I refused to get set up for fraud claim. While Rick Scott boasts about himself regarding low unemployment, the reality is, someone like myself who only received $3300 in unemployment monies, about three months of $275 per week, is no-longer being counted as unemployed since he cut benefits and shortened how long someone can collect. There is no reporting State agency that tracks the high number of still unemployed that no longer collect benefits, as such, the low unemployment number is not reality based. In addition, I have had a parade of interviews over 21 with no employment offers. When I receive a rejection letter on a prior job, then I have another interview pending, leaving me in limbo, over and over. While Rick Scott has been Governor, I have not be able to obtain State employment for nearly 7 years, with a very short period of employment only 9 months. Regarding Cissy Proctor, her staff would not extend an offer to a female attorney over age 40 (52 years old) with 25 years licensed attorney, 15 years documented experience as a lawyer and instead hired a White male with only one year experience over me for an Appeals Hearing Officer. When I complained, they accused me of being dishonest because I reapplied for the same position three months later so they would know I was still interested. Since People First doesn't accept a second application, I created the same application with another email address having my entire name in it. Cissy Proctor's staff claimed this was dishonest. Her staff makes no rationale argument for discriminating against someone. I used an email address with my entire name on it, I didn't hide I was the same person. It was three months later, I only tried to show I was still interested in the position, this is not dishonest behavior. Cissy Proctor is a disgrace and she is only committed to her own agenda.

If your comment is a sample of your writing and analytical skills, it’s no surprise that you have not received any job offers. As an attorney, I can assure you that I would not hire you.

In addition, whoever you are "Gechang Tao," this is a post on a blog, not a legal brief or an interview. On my other point, regarding the low unemployment rate, there is no State agency that keeps track of who is still unemployed. Once an unemployed person is no longer collecting benefits, they are no longer counted in this rate. The rate doesn't reflect the real number of unemployed, only those still collecting benefits. I have not received any letters or emails regarding any surveys collected on whether I located employment post collecting benefits. In the event, you are aware of a State agency that collects this data, then explain this. The low unemployment rate is not a real number as far as I know. In the event, you can state with some certainty how the State of Florida tracks the total unemployed post collection of benefits, then enlighten the readers. Otherwise, attacking someone personally based on a blog that is not a legal brief is unprofessional. Again, I haven't located your name in the Florida Bar website as an active lawyer.

I can't locate your name Gechang Tao in the Florida Bar. Where are you licensed? So what you are saying is that an attorney should sign a resignation letter and then claim unemployment. I am saying that it was wrong for Patrick Cunningham to lie and say only when you sign resignation letter that you can claim unemployment, this is fraud. Check the Florida Statutes on claiming unemployment. I am saying regarding the other issue, that reapplying with the same application using another email address is not dishonest, it only means someone is still interested in employment three months later. When you make a statement as a lawyer or so you claim you are one (can't locate name in Florida Bar) you should be specific. I am explaining my past experiences with Rick Scott's administration.

As an attorney, still unemployed after having been fired by Rick Scott at the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. They tried to get me to sign resignation letter, I refused claiming I couldn't get my cash value of unused vacation money without signing resignation letter. I still refused, because Patrick Cunningham, lied and the Administrative Code uses the word separated (means terminated or resigned, etc). I said I couldn't claim unemployment if I signed resignation letter, Patrick sign they wouldn't fight it. You can't claim terminated with DEO if you sign resignation letter. I refused to get set up for fraud claim. While Rick Scott boasts about himself regarding low unemployment, the reality is, someone like myself who only received $3300 in unemployment monies, about three months of $275 per week, is no-longer being counted as unemployed since he cut benefits and shortened how long someone can collect. There is no reporting State agency that tracks the high number of still unemployed that no longer collect benefits, as such, the low unemployment number is not reality based. In addition, I have had a parade of interviews over 21 with no employment offers. When I receive a rejection letter on a prior job, then I have another interview pending, leaving me in limbo, over and over. While Rick Scott has been Governor, I have not be able to obtain State employment for nearly 7 years, with a very short period of employment only 9 months. Regarding Cissy Proctor, her staff would not extend an offer to a female attorney over age 40 (52 years old) with 25 years licensed attorney, 15 years documented experience as a lawyer and instead hired a White male with only one year experience over me for an Appeals Hearing Officer. When I complained, they accused me of being dishonest because I reapplied for the same position three months later so they would know I was still interested. Since People First doesn't accept a second application, I created the same application with another email address having my entire name in it. Cissy Proctor's staff claimed this was dishonest. Her staff makes no rationale argument for discriminating against someone. I used an email address with my entire name on it, I didn't hide I was the same person. It was three months later, I only tried to show I was still interested in the position, this is not dishonest behavior. Cissy Proctor is a disgrace.

Whoopee! MORE grass-cutting, pool-tending, and house-keeping jobs! $8.25 per hour. $330 gross per 40-hour week. $17,160 over a 52-week year. Might work ... somehow ... for illegals ... but it's barely HALF of a living wage for working Americans!

Cut taxes and ornerous regualtons in a high business climate state and the economy takes off. GDP currently moving along at over 4% rate. Unemployment is down across every demographic nearing /at/below all time lowest numbers rates ever. When was the last time there were more job openings than people looking for work? All it took was some business acuem to achieve this success.

I AM A FLORIDIAN AT HEART, AND ABSOLUTELY HATE LIVING IN GEORGIA, OUR GOALS IS TO MOVE TO FLORIDA AND ME AND MY LOVED ONE BECOME LIFETIME FLORIDIANS. I SURE WISH HE WERE MY GOVERNOR, NONE OF THEM IN GEORGIA HERE GIVES A DAMN. HERE IN GEORGIA WE HAVE EVERYTHING GOING INTO SHAMBLES.

Comments are now closed.

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