On Friday, Gov. Rick Scott announced Florida’s unemployment rate dropped to 5.2 percent in September as 8,700 new jobs in the private-sector were created.
In August, the unemployment rate was 5.3 percent. September’s rate was the lowest for Florida since February 2008, something Scott noted on Friday.
“Today’s announcement that Florida businesses added 8,700 new jobs last month and our unemployment rate is at the lowest level in seven years is great news,” Scott said. “By working to diversify our economy, we want to make Florida first for job creation so families have more opportunities in Florida than in any other state to live their dreams.”
Jesse Panuccio, the executive director of the state Department of Economic Opportunity, noted that there were still many unfilled job openings across Florida.
“This month brought more good news for Florida’s economy as the unemployment rate fell again and thousands more jobs were added,” Panuccio said. “The number of unemployed individuals is also at a seven-year low, and there are more than 267,000 job openings across the state. Because of Florida’s pro-growth policies, we have one of the top-performing economies in the nation.”
Florida’s unemployment rate remains slightly above the national average which stood at 5.1 percent in September. Since Scott took office at the start of 2011, the unemployment rate has dropped 5.5 percent.
In the past year, as Florida has seen record-high tourism numbers, the leisure and hospitality industry has led the way on job growth with 58,100 new jobs. The education and health services industry saw 50,200 new jobs created in Florida over the last year while the trade, transportation, and utilities sector has seen 44,500 new jobs over the last year.
Monroe County continues to have the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 3.6 percent with St. Johns County on the First Coast as the next lowest at 3.8 percent. Franklin and Okaloosa counties are the next lowest with unemployment rates of 4.3 percent each.
Hendry County continues to have the highest unemployment rate in the state at 11.4 percent, the only county in Florida with a double digit unemployment rate. The bright side for Hendry County was the rate was lower than it had been in August when it was 12.2 percent. The next highest was Hardee County at 8.6 percent followed by Glades and Highlands counties which both came in at 7.3 percent each.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
