Floridas unemployment rate for December stood at 9.9 percent, down from 10 percent in November and marking the first time the state has been below double digits since April 2009, according to the state Department of Economic Opportunity.
Gov. Rick Scott, in a conference call with reporters on Friday, said Floridas growth is the strongest since 2007; the result, he said, of a reduction in business regulations and streamlining government.
This proves the changes we're implementing, with the help of our friends in the Legislature, are working, Scott said.
Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, called the numbers encouraging.
This session, we will continue to strive to foster an environment that offers stability and predictability to our states business owners and entrepreneurs by offering a thoughtful, balanced budget that doesnt raise a single tax or fee on hard-working Floridians," Haridopolos stated in a release.
"And while our unemployment rate is still far too high, and too many Florida families continue to struggle, I firmly believe that this formula will keep Florida heading in the right direction.
The Florida Chamber of Commerce quickly called the numbers a sign that the state is moving in the right direction, but said more work is needed.
To continue private-sector job growth, we must maintain a long-term focus on diversifying the economy, continuously improve education and take immediate action to reduce the cost of doing business, David Hart, Chamber executive vice president, stated in a release.
Florida has a pivotal opportunity this (legislative) session to improve our states business climate by implementing workers compensation, unemployment compensation, and auto insurance personal injury protection reforms that will save nearly $2 billion and position our state for sustained private-sector job growth.
The new numbers come as the state Legislature is looking into renaming unemployment benefits as re-employment assistance.
The House Economic Affairs Committee on Thursday supported, without opposition, HB 7027, which would rename the benefits as part of an overall reform of the unemployment program.
The bill by Rep. Doug Holder, R-Sarasota, also would require those seeking assistance to take a skills test and for the state to provide free training for those scoring low on the test.
Unemployment has been one of Holders key issues. Last year he was part of efforts to revamp the unemployment system.
Last year legislators reduced the number of weeks to receive benefits from 26 to 23, while requiring those receiving benefits to make contact with five potential employers per week, make a weekly visit to a career center and to take drug tests.
Overall, there were 913,000 listed as unemployed during the holiday season, out of a potential labor force of 9.23 million.
The state increased by 7,300 nonagricultural jobs from November to December, according to the state DEO.
Since January 2011, the state has reported a net increase of 113,900 jobs, bolstered by an addition of 141,500 private-sector jobs.
State and local government continued their downward trend, shedding 7,900 positions.
The construction field, which in South Florida has latched onto the prospect of building three $2 billion casinos to revitalize the industry, also reported a drop of 1,000 jobs.
Industries seeing the most growth were in transportation, utilities, leisure, hospitality, private education, health services and finance.
These industry job gains were partially due to increases in clothing and accessory stores; food services and drinking places; ambulatory health care services; management and technical consulting services; real estate; fabricated metal product manufacturing; and personal and laundry services, according to the state DOE.
Fridays numbers come days after the U.S. Department of Labor reported that the number of people seeking unemployment benefits sank to 352,000 last week, the fewest since April 2008.
Florida, however, still remains above the national unemployment mark, which stands at 8.5 percent. Floridas unemployment rate has been higher than the nation's since February 2008.
Across Florida, many governments that have relied heavily on government jobs have held the lowest unemployment marks:
- 6.2 percent, Monroe County
- 6.3 percent, Liberty County
- 7.1 percent, Okaloosa County
- 7.5 percent, Walton County
The highest marks remain in counties that have seen big drops in information, government and construction jobs:
- 13.9 percent, Flagler County
- 13.5 percent, Hendry County
- 12.7 percent, Hernando County
- 12.0 percent, Hamilton County
- 11.9 percent, St. Lucie County
Overall, there were 27 Florida counties with double-digit unemployment rates in December, down from 33 in November.
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.
