Florida's Unemployment Rate Stays at 11.9 Percent in October

Florida's jobless rate for October remained unchanged from the previous month, with 11.9 percent of the work force unemployed, according to a report from the Agency for Workforce Innovation released Friday.

Even though the unemployment rate didn't budge, AWI Director Cynthia Lorenzo saw cause for optimism in the report.

"In addition to showing improved over-the-year job creation, Florida posted the largest decrease in the country last week in the number of people who filed for first-time unemployment benefits," Lorenzo said.

Nonagricultural employment increased by 6,900 jobs during the month to 7,215,000. Florida's annual jobs growth rate is .5 percent, or 35,700 more jobs compared to October 2009.