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Jobless rate holds steady in Florida, rises in Palm Beach

By Palm Beach Business.com

DELRAY BEACH — Unemployment held steady in Florida last month, while jobless rates in Palm Beach and Broward counties moved higher compared to May. However, all rates are significantly lower than they were a year ago.

Florida’s Agency for Workforce Innovation reported Friday that the statewide rate held at 10.6 percent, same as in May, but down from June 2010 when the rate hit 11.4 percent. Actual number of Floridians out of work: 982,000, compared with 980,000 in May and 1.049 million in June 2010.

In Palm Beach, the rate rose to 11.0 percent from10.3 percent in May but down from the 11.7 percent in June 2010. Actual number of Palm Beach County residents out of work: 67,997, up from May’s 63,463 but down from the 71,823 counted in June a year ago.

Broward’s numbers: 9.5 percent unemployed in June, compared to 9.0 percent in May and 9.9 percent in June 2010. Actual number of residents out of work: 94,075, compared to 88,633 in May and 97,458 in June 2010.

Statewide numbers are adjusted for seasonal factors that affect unemployment, while county numbers are not. Unemployment numbers typically jump in June as school lets out and the tourist season grinds to a halt.

The jobs recovery is expected to be a long, slow slog, particularly in Florida. The housing boom of the early and mid-2000s was one of the major engines that produced jobs in the Sunshine State, but Rebecca Rust, chief economist for AWI, said the housing market in Florida continues to search for a bottom.

Meanwhile, uncertainty also is playing a role in the lack of job creation, and the biggest uncertainty is when consumers will start spending again.

“Broadly speaking, employers are concerned about demand,” Rust said.

Other highlights from the June report:

— Manufacturing posted job gains through the year. That’s significant because the sector generally has been a job loser generally speaking since the recession began, and because the most of the hiring is related to metal fabricating for construction.

— Florida added 4,300 jobs in June and 53,000 in the 12 months through June.

— Florida has added jobs for five consecutive months.