Florida Unemployment Rate Hits 11%
POSTED: Friday, October 16, 2009
UPDATED: 3:48 pm EDT October 16,
2009
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The number of unemployed Floridians topped 1 million for the first time as the state's jobless rate hit 11 percent in September.The unemployment rate was 0.2 percentage points higher than August's adjusted 10.8 percent rate. It's also 1.2 percentage points higher than the national unemployment rate.Duval County's jobless rate dipped slightly -- from 11.3 to 11.2 percent -- but most other northeast Florida counties saw unemployment numbers increase.At 16.2 percent, Flagler County continues to have the highest unemployment rate in the area and among the highest rates in the state.The last time Florida's unemployment rate reached 11 percent was in October 1975.
"The recovery is coming slowly, but it is coming," Agency for Workforce Innovation Director Cynthia Lorenzo said in a press release announcing the numbers Friday. "The latest unemployment figures confirm that the economic downturn continues to impact a significant number of Floridians and businesses. However, a reduction in employers announcing closings or large-scale layoffs is a positive sign of Florida's growing economic stability."The statistics were released a day after a report showed $334.6 million in federal contracts awarded through the federal stimulus package created or saved 1,635 Florida jobs so far. Many projects have been awarded but not started, so the report shows no jobs created yet.The county with the highest unemployment rate is Hendry at 16.8 percent, followed by Flagler at 16.2 percent and St. Lucie at 15.3 percent. The county with the lowest unemployment rate is Liberty at 5.3 percent, followed by Walton at 6.8 percent and Monroe at 7 percent.Florida has lost more than 360,000 jobs since September 2008.
Copyright 2009 by News4Jax.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Copyright 2009 by News4Jax.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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