Unemployment Down 2.1% In Florida
Unemployment Rate Is 9.9%
Gov. Rick Scott announced Friday that the unemployment rate in Florida dropped to 9.9 percent in December. The drop is a 2.1 percent decrease since December of 2011. Click Like For Central Florida News Updates:A total of 5,100 new private-sector jobs were added during the month, according to a release issued by the governor's office."A good way to judge the direction of Florida's economy is to look at the percentage of people who were unemployed one year ago and now have jobs," said Scott. "Today the number is 2.1 percentage points lower than it was in 2010, meaning more of Florida's families are finding jobs. It is my goal to give every Floridian who wants a job the opportunity to get to work."Workforce Central Florida said central Florida's unemployment rate has also dropped to 9.4 percent. The drop is 2.0 percent down from a year ago.Job seekers see the news as a step in the right direction."I think it's a whole lot better," said Antonio Koon. "It gives me a positive attitude that things are changing a little bit."The unemployment rate is the lowest it has been since April 2009, when it was 9.1 percent, said the agency.Leisure and hospitality gained the most jobs over the past year in the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford area, adding more than 5,800 jobs, according to statistics released by Workforce Central Florida.The Center for Business Excellence said that unemployment for Flagler and Volusia counties was 10.5 in December, which is also a drop from the area's year-ago rate.Unemployment rates for the Central Florida counties are: Lake - 9.9 percentOrange - 9.4 percentSeminole - 8.7 percentOsceola - 10.7 percentSumter - 7.6 percentVolusia - 10.1 percentFlagler - 13.9 percentMarion - 11.6 percentBrevard - 10.8 percentPolk - 10.7 percent The governor's release said that Florida businesses have created 141,500 jobs in the private sector since January 2011. That is an average of 12,800 jobs per month.It is estimated that there are still over 108,000 people out of work in the central Florida area. .mostpoplink a:link, a:active, a:visited {text-decoration: none} .mostpoplink A:hover {text-decoration: underline;} Most Popular Stories On WESH.com
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. —
Gov. Rick Scott announced Friday that the unemployment rate in Florida dropped to 9.9 percent in December. The drop is a 2.1 percent decrease since December of 2011.
A total of 5,100 new private-sector jobs were added during the month, according to a release issued by the governor's office.
"A good way to judge the direction of Florida's economy is to look at the percentage of people who were unemployed one year ago and now have jobs," said Scott. "Today the number is 2.1 percentage points lower than it was in 2010, meaning more of Florida's families are finding jobs. It is my goal to give every Floridian who wants a job the opportunity to get to work."
Workforce Central Florida said central Florida's unemployment rate has also dropped to 9.4 percent. The drop is 2.0 percent down from a year ago.
Job seekers see the news as a step in the right direction.
"I think it's a whole lot better," said Antonio Koon. "It gives me a positive attitude that things are changing a little bit."
The unemployment rate is the lowest it has been since April 2009, when it was 9.1 percent, said the agency.
Leisure and hospitality gained the most jobs over the past year in the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford area, adding more than 5,800 jobs, according to statistics released by Workforce Central Florida.
The Center for Business Excellence said that unemployment for Flagler and Volusia counties was 10.5 in December, which is also a drop from the area's year-ago rate.
Unemployment rates for the Central Florida counties are:
Lake - 9.9 percent
Orange - 9.4 percent
Seminole - 8.7 percent
Osceola - 10.7 percent
Sumter - 7.6 percent
Volusia - 10.1 percent
Flagler - 13.9 percent
Marion - 11.6 percent
Brevard - 10.8 percent
Polk - 10.7 percent
The governor's release said that Florida businesses have created 141,500 jobs in the private sector since January 2011. That is an average of 12,800 jobs per month.
It is estimated that there are still over 108,000 people out of work in the central Florida area.