Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster
Florida’s unemployment rate remained steady in August, marking the fourth straight month the state reported a rate of 4.7 percent.
The state added 22,600 private-sector jobs across the state in August, bringing the total number of jobs created in 2016 to 167,100. The unemployment rate remains at 4.7 percent, one of the lowest rates since November 2007, according to the governor’s office.
“It’s a great thing,” said Cissy Proctor, executive director of the Department of Economic Opportunity. “We have people moving into the state every day and private sector businesses are creating jobs. Having a steady unemployment rate with all those positive indicators is a great thing.”
Gov. Rick Scott announced the monthly jobs numbers during a stop at All Access Multimedia, a Fort Myers marketing and production company that specializes in commercials, infomercials, and web videos.
“This is a great month,” said Scott, who noted the state has added nearly 1.2 million private sector jobs since he took office.
According to the Department of Economic Opportunity, 23 out of the 24 metro areas saw year-over-year jobs gains. The largest gains once again occurred in the Orlando area, where the state jobs agency reported 48,300 private sector jobs were added over the year.
The unemployment rate in the Orlando area was at 4.4 percent, a 0.7 percentage point drop from August 2015.
Known as a tourist haven, it’s no surprise the Orlando area saw gains in the leisure and hospitality industry. The Department of Economic Opportunity reported 13,600 jobs were added in that sector over the year. Construction came in second with 10,200 new jobs, followed by education and health services with 8,400 new jobs.
The Tampa Bay region added more than 39,500 private sector jobs over the year in August. The area had an unemployment rate of 4.6 percent in August.
The Department of Economic Opportunity reported professional and business services was one of the top industries over the year. The industry added 13,200 jobs, followed by the transportation and utilities industry with 7,900 new jobs.
The Tampa area also continues to be one of the metro regions with the most demand, with a reported 49,542 job openings in August. The region, according to the governor’s office, remained first in the state in demand for high-skill, high-wage, STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) occupations.
Monroe County had the lowest unemployment rate in August at 3.1 percent; while Hendry County had the highest unemployment rate at 11.6 percent.
