Statewide jobless rate holds steady; Palm Beach County sees slight decline

TALLAHASSEE — Florida’s jobless rate held steady in April, but the state continued to shed jobs, the Agency for Workforce Innovation said Friday.

The agency reported that the statewide unemployment rate held at 4.9 percent, adjusted for seasonal factors, same as in March, but up from 3.8 percent a year ago.  The number of workers out of a job and looking for employment totaled 456,000.

In Palm Beach County, the rate fell slightly, to 4.8 percent from 5.0 in March, but up from the 3.6 percent posted a year ago. The number of jobless but looking totaled 30,666.

County rates are not seasonally adjusted, making month-to-month comparisons statistically less valid than year-over-year changes.

In Broward, the jobless rate fell to 4.2 percent from 4.3 percent in March, but up from 3.1 percent a year ago.

In Miami-Dade, the jobless rate soared to 4.7 percent from 3.9 percent in March and 3.5 percent a year ago.

Construction and the slumping housing market continued to be the big bugaboo in the employment picture as the state lost a net of 64,5000 jobs in the 12 months through April. In that time, Florida lost 84,700 construction jobs; 21,900 manufacturing jobs; 12,400 professional and business service jobs and 5,900 financial service jobs.

Education and health services continued to be the strongest growing sector, adding 33,500 jobs, followed by leisure and hospitality, up 17,500 jobs and government, up 15,200.