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Jobless rates drop in Florida, Palm Beach County

By Palm Beach Business.com

DELRAY BEACH — The recovery of the national economy continues to create jobs in Florida and Palm Beach County, dropping unemployment rates to levels not seen in three years.

The Department of Economic Opportunity on Friday reported that the statewide jobless rate dropped to a seasonally adjusted 9.4 percent in February from 9.6 percent a month earlier and 10.8 percent a year ago. That’s the lowest rate for Florida since 2009.

In Palm Beach County, the jobless rate fell to 9.2 percent, or 56,882 workers, from 9.6 percent in January and 10.9 percent a year ago, according to DEO. County rates are not adjusted for seasonal factors, making month-to-month comparisons less meaningful than year-over-year.

“The improvement in the county’s unemployment rate reflects a gradual, but steady, recovery in the area’s economy,” Workforce Alliance CEO Stve Craig said in a statement. “This marks the first time since mid-2009 that the county’s unemployment rate has been in the single digits for three consecutive months. And there’s more good news -- the number of job openings has increased 22.6 percent in the county compared to this same time last year.”

Workforce Alliance is the nonprofit organization chartered by the state of Florida to handle unemployment and job services in Palm Beach County.

In Broward County, the jobless rate dropped to 7.9 percent in February from 8.3 percent a month earlier and 9.4 percent a year ago. Total number of unemployed: 77,592.

Industries adding jobs statewide during the 12 months through February included trade, transportation and utilities, up 27,800; private education and health services, up 23,800; leisure and hospitality, up 21,100; financial services, up 5,600; manufacturing, up 3,300.

Those losing jobs statewide: construction, down 17,100; government, down 14,400; and information, down 800.

In Palm Beach County, industries adding jobs included: education and health services, up 3,300; professional and business services up 3,000; trade, transportation and utilities, up 1,400; financial activities, up 500 information, up 300; and construction, up 200. Palm Beach County topped the state for job gains in the information and construction sectors.

Sectors shedding jobs were leisure and hospitality, down 5, and government down 300 jobs.