- The unemployment rate held steady, at 10.6 percent, a reminder that the economic recovery remains fragile and slow. The numbers released today show 982,000 Floridians are still out of work, though the state has gained 85,500 jobs since the beginning of the year.
- This was the first time in five years that the state saw a monthly gain in manufacturing jobs, adding 800 in June (seasonally adjusted).
- The biggest source of job growth continues to be leisure and hospitality, followed by private education and health services. Government and construction continue to be among the sectors losing the most jobs.
- The Space Coast continues to suffer the most regional job losses, shedding another 5,500 over the year last month.
- The Agency for Workforce Innovation is touting changes to the state’s unemployment compensation system, which will shorten the benefits period and make it easier for employees to be denied benefits based on misconduct. According to today’s jobs report, the changes will also “save the state money, reduce taxes on employers and help get Floridians back to work.”
The full text of the report is below #
TALLAHASSEE – Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in June 2011 is 10.6 percent. This represents 982,000 jobless out of a labor force of 9,234,000. The state’s unemployment rate is unchanged from May 2011 but is 0.8 percentage point lower than the June 2010 rate of 11.4 percent. The U.S. unemployment rate is 9.2 percent in June. #
Florida’s seasonally adjusted total nonagricultural employment in June 2011 is 7,247,000, an increase of 4,300 jobs (+0.1 percent) from May 2011. Florida has gained 85,500 jobs from January through June 2011. #
#
“While Florida’s continued pattern of job growth is good news, we still have much work to do to restore our state’s economy to pre-recession levels, and that effort remains our highest priority,” said Agency for Workforce Innovation Director Cynthia R. Lorenzo. “Under Governor Scott’s leadership and through Florida’s nationally recognized workforce services, we are committed to ensuring our employers and potential employers have the support they need to succeed and create the jobs that will continue Florida’s forward momentum.” #
Positive News #
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce last month recognized Florida as the top state in the nation for workforce training programs in its Enterprising States report, up from No. 2 the previous year. The rankings are based on measures including job placement, the affordability and efficiency of a state’s higher education system and the number of high school students enrolled in advanced placement courses. The report also touted Florida’s Quick Response Training (QRT) program, which advances job creation and retention by supporting customized skills upgrade training for new or expanding businesses. #
#
The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey for the third quarter of 2011 finds Florida employers are becoming more confident about their staffing plans. The survey found 17 percent of the companies interviewed plan to hire more employees from July to September, while another 70 percent expect to maintain their current staff levels. #
Unemployment Compensation Changes #
#
Legislation signed into law last month enacts several changes that will save the state money, reduce taxes on employers and help get Floridians back to work. Changes taking effect August 1, 2011 include: #
Internet Filing and Certification of Weeks – Initial and continued claims must be filed over the Internet. The change will improve government efficiency and provide a projected $4.7 million savings annually in administrative costs. #
Work Search – Claimants are required on a weekly basis to contact five potential employers and provide this information over the Internet during their bi-weekly certification for benefits. A quick, efficient way to contact employers is by using the Employ Florida Marketplace at employflorida.com, the state’s online job matching system where you can search thousands of job postings and apply for jobs. #
If a claimant is not able to make at least five employer contacts in a week, meeting with a representative at a local One-Stop Career Center for reemployment services may satisfy this requirement for that week. #
Skills Review – In order to receive benefits, claimants filing new claims must complete an initial skills review over the Internet. The results of the review will be used by local One-Stop Career Centers to assist claimants with job searches. #
For more information, please visit floridajobs.org. #
Florida’s Nonagricultural Employment by Industry (Seasonally Adjusted) #
- · The number of jobs in Florida is 7,247,000 in June 2011, up 53,000 jobs compared to a year ago. June is the ninth consecutive month with positive annual job growth since the state started losing jobs in July 2007. The industry gaining the most jobs is leisure and hospitality (+46,700 jobs, +5.1 percent).
- · Other industries gaining jobs include private education and health services (+21,500 jobs, +2.0 percent); professional and business services (+7,500 jobs, +0.7 percent); trade, transportation, and utilities (+4,400 jobs, +0.3 percent); other services (+2,300 jobs, +0.7 percent); and manufacturing (+800 jobs, +0.3 percent).
- · The June increase in manufacturing employment is the first annual gain in manufacturing since June 2006.
- · These industry job gains are partially due to increases in food services and drinking places; hospitals; legal services and management/technical consulting services; motor vehicle and parts dealers; repair and maintenance; and fabricated metal product manufacturing.
- · Industries losing jobs over the year include: total government (-16,000 jobs, -1.4 percent); construction (-9,400 jobs, -2.7 percent); information (-3,600 jobs, -2.7 percent); and financial activities (-1,300 jobs, -0.3 percent).
- · These industry job losses are partially due to losses in federal government which employed temporary census workers last year; construction of buildings; telecommunications; and insurance carriers and related activities.
Local Area Unemployment Statistics (Not Seasonally Adjusted) #
- · In June 2011, Monroe County has the state’s lowest unemployment rate (6.6 percent), followed by Walton County (6.9 percent); Liberty County (7.0 percent); Okaloosa County (7.4 percent); and Lafayette County (7.7 percent). Most of the counties with the lowest unemployment rates are those with relatively high proportions of government employment. Others had seasonal increases in tourism-related employment.
- · Hendry County has the highest unemployment rate (16.2 percent) in Florida in June 2011, followed by Flagler County (14.6 percent); Miami-Dade County (13.9 percent); Hernando County (13.8 percent); and Indian River County (13.5 percent). Seasonal declines in agriculture and related industries contributed to Hendry County’s high unemployment rate. There were 38 Florida counties with double-digit unemployment rates in June.
#
Area Nonagricultural Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted) #
- · Twelve metro areas of the 22 in the state have over-the-year job gains in June 2011. The areas with the largest gains are Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall (+12,700 jobs, +1.3 percent), Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford (+8,000 jobs, +0.8 percent), and Jacksonville (+5,400 jobs, +0.9 percent). Of the metro areas with job declines, the largest losses are in Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville
(-5,500 jobs, -2.8 percent), Cape Coral-Ft. Myers (-3,000 jobs, -1.5 percent), and Naples-Marco Island (-2,500 jobs, -2.3 percent).
#
