Job Growth Continues In Florida

Job Growth Spurs Drop In Unemployment Rate To 4.7 Percent

Florida's unemployment rate remained steady month to month in October, stuck at 3.2 percent, but Ken Lawson, Executive Director of the Department of Economic Opportunity, says people are continuing to get back to work.

"We've seen the last three months, Florida's labor and participation rate has increased."

Lawson puts it this way:

"Florida's open for business, we're competitive and we're developing and growing."

He adds "Come on down to the sunshine, start a business, get a job."

The jobless rate was especially low in Orange County, at 2.6 percent and if you thought the biggest jobs gains there would be in the tourism industry...think again.

"For Orlando, what was really number one? The Professional and Business Services Sector, where 18,000 new jobs were created in that sector."

Education and health services is the sector with the most growth statewide, where most places are performing well.

"We're seeing an increase in the folks participating and also there are jobs out there."

All counties in the Orlando area fared well, at or below 3 percent, and Lawson says it's only going to get better.

"This week the governor gave a job growth grant fund to the Orlando-Melbourne International Airport. They're making an investment of nearly $4 million. It's reported to created nearly 500 new jobs in that area."

None of the counties in South Florida came in above 3 percent.

Palm Beach County has now spent a year with more job openings than there are job seekers.

Click Here to check on the jobs numbers in your county.

Photo: Getty Images


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