State Unemployment Drops to 11.9 Percent

The Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation released the seasonally adjusted unemployment numbers for January 2011 and found a slight decrease in the unemployment rate.

The unemployment rate for January 2011 stood at 11.9 percent, down from 12 percent in December, meaning 1.1 million Floridians out of a pool of 9.28 million are unemployed.

While Floridas unemployment rate is still unacceptably high, we are seeing positive signs that employers are starting to hire, said Cynthia R. Lorenzo., director of the agency, on Thursday. An increase in online advertisements for full-time jobs coupled with an increase in Floridas Consumer Confidence Index indicates that our business owners and families are increasingly optimistic about Floridas economic recovery. As Governor Scott moves forward with his bold pro-business agenda, that optimism will continue.