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Florida leads nation in jobs
The state's unemployment rate drops to a record as 253,200 nonagricultural jobs are created in the past year.
By LOUIS HAU
Published November 19, 2005
Florida's unemployment rate slipped to a record low in October, with the booming construction industry continuing to be a major generator of jobs.
Moreover, Florida again led all states in the number of nonagricultural jobs created during the past year, generating 253,200 in the 12 months ended Oct. 31. The next highest: California.
The state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 3.4 percent last month, the lowest level recorded since 1976, the earliest that comparable records are available, the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation said Friday.
The October unemployment rate was little changed from September's 3.5 percent but down substantially from 4.8 percent a year earlier.
It was sharply lower than the national average of 5 percent, with the 1.6 percentage point gap being the largest between the state and national unemployment rates since 1982, the agency said.
In the west central Florida area, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties posted jobless rates of 3.3 percent. Pasco was at 3.7 percent, Hernando 4.1 percent and Citrus 3.4 percent.
The Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater region generated 31,000 more nonagricultural jobs in October than a year earlier, ranking it third in job creation behind Miami-Fort Lauderdale and Orlando.
Among major nonagricultural jobs categories, the construction industry posted the greatest percentage growth, adding 34,400 jobs for a gain of 6.9 percent from a year earlier.
Also Friday, staffing company Spherion Corp. said the 39 percent of Florida workers polled in October said they are likely to look for a new job in the next year, up 7 percentage points from the previous month.
"I believe that Florida's economy is poised for continued, broad-based growth as the end of 2005 nears and businesses gear up for the upcoming holiday season," said Matt Shore, regional managing director of Florida for Spherion's professional services unit in Fort Lauderdale.
Louis Hau can be reached at hau@sptimes.com or 813 226-3404.
[Last modified November 19, 2005, 01:07:13]
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