Florida's unemployment rate falls but state continues to shed jobs

By Palm Beach Business.com

TALLAHASSEE — The good news: Florida’s unemployment rate for June is down over May’s rate. The bad news: The difference isn’t much, and the state’s economy continues to shed jobs.

The statewide jobless rate for June hit 5.5 percent, down from 5.6 percent in May, but up from the 4.0 percent rate posted a year ago, Florida’s Agency for Workforce Innovation reported Friday. The figures are adjusted for seasonal factors.

Florida lost 78,000 jobs net during the 12 months through June.

In Palm Beach County, the jobless rate hit 6.0 percent, up from 5.5 percent in May and 4.5 percent a year ago. County rates are not seasonally adjusted, and at least a portion of the jump in June can be attributed to the end of the school year.

Nearly 39,000 county residents out of a work force of 650,000 were out of work, according to Friday’s report.

In Broward, the jobless rate climbed to 5.1 percent from 4.8 percent in May and 3.7 percent in June a year ago.

In Miami-Dade, the rate hit 5.5 percent, up from 4.8 percent in May and 3.8 percent a year ago.

Only one metro area in the state — Gainesville — saw gains in employment over the last 12 months. The Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach MSA saw a loss of 17,400 jobs.

Construction continued to have the biggest losses among the industry sectors, down 81,600 jobs through June. That represents more than half the job losses statewide.

Other sectors: Manufacturing lost 24,900 jobs; professional and business services lost 24,100; financial services lost 7,700 jobs.

On the plus side, government was the biggest jobs generator statewide, adding 31,000 over the past 12 months. Education and health services added 29,800 jobs and leisure and hospitality added 18,400.