James Call
The Florida economy closed out the year with the lowest unemployment rate since April of 2008. According to the Department of Economic Opportunity, the jobless rate dropped 0.2 percent in December and matched the national rate of 5.6 percent.
“We are excited to announced that Florida businesses added 11,500 private-sector jobs in December, for a total of 728,500 private-sector jobs created in only four years and we look forward to seeing even more businesses grow and create jobs for families across the state,” said Gov. Rick Scott in a prepared statement.
“As we prepare to release our 2015-2016 “Keep Florida Working” budget recommendations, we will stay laser-focused on our goal of making Florida the global destination for business and job creation,” said Scott.
Scott is expected to release his budget proposal next week. It serves as the starting point for the Florida Legislature, which will start writing a state spending plan in March. In his first term and re-election campaign, Scott promoted an economic policy of fewer regulations and taxes saying capital flows to where it’s welcomed.
Scott ran for re-election saying his policies put Florida back to work.
“We now have the complete picture of Florida’s economic turnaround these past four years,” said DEO Executive Director Jesse Panuccio. “Last year was the best year yet in Florida’s recovery, with 225,700 private-sector jobs added, record levels of job demand, a falling unemployment rate and nation-leading labor force growth.”
In the past 12 months, the industry gaining the most jobs was professional and business services, posting a 4.3 percent growth since December 2013, or 49,100 jobs. Gains in other industries included 44,800 jobs in trade, transportation and utilities, a 2.8 percent increase. Leisure and hospitality posted a 3.9 percent increase, or 41,000 jobs, and the construction industry had an 8.9 percent increase in new hires, or 34,300 jobs.
Other than government, nearly every industry gained jobs.
Monroe County had the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 3.2 percent, followed by Walton at 3.8 percent and Okaloosa and Alachua counties at 4.2 percent each.
Hendry County had the highest unemployment rate at 8.4 percent, followed by Flagler at 7.6 percent and Hamilton at 7.5 percent.
The DEO report can be found here.
