DELRAY BEACH — A week before Christmas, and Florida’s Agency for Workforce Innovation gave the state a rather dismal jobs report for November. The report, issued Friday morning, showed Palm Beach County’s jobless rate popping up to 11.7 percent in November from October’s revised rate of 11.5 percent. The number of county residents out of work increased to 73,319 from 72,084 a month earlier. A year ago, 7.8 percent of Palm Beach County residents were out of work, according to the agency. County rates are not seasonally adjusted, and in Palm Beach County, they normally dip as retailers gear up for holiday shoppers and the hospitality industry — hotels, restaurants, etc. — see increasing traffice from snow birds and tourists. That’s not happening this year. Statewide, unemployment increased to 11.5 percent in November from 11.3 percent in October and 7.2 percent a year ago. The number of Floridians out of work increased to 1.056 million from 1.035 million a month earlier. Education and health services was the only industry sector showing an increase in jobs during the 12 months through November, up 8,3000, or 0.8 percent. All of that came on the health services side, and most of that came from nursing homes. Other industries: Construction, down 73,300 jobs; trade, transportation and utilities, down 69,500 jobs; professional and business services, down 58,500 jobs; manufacturing, down 41,100. In Broward County, the jobless rate increased to 10.5 percent from 9.7 percent a month earlier and 6.5 percent a year ago. In Miami-Dade, the rate dropped to 10.5 percent from 11.8 percent in October but higher than the 6.2 percent a year ago.

Florida's jobs report: One only the Grinch would love

By David Sedore, Palm Beach Business.com

DELRAY BEACH — A week before Christmas, and Florida’s Agency for Workforce Innovation gave the state a rather dismal jobs report for November.

The report, issued Friday morning, showed Palm Beach County’s jobless rate popping up to 11.7 percent in November from October’s revised rate of 11.5 percent. The number of county residents out of work increased to 73,319 from 72,084 a month earlier. Factor in workers who have given up searching for jobs and and those working part-time because they can't find full-time employment and the number likely approaches 20 percent.

A year ago, 49,141 Palm Beach County residents, or 7.8 percent of the work force, were jobless, according to the agency.

County rates are not seasonally adjusted, and in Palm Beach County, they normally dip as retailers gear up for holiday shoppers and the hospitality industry — hotels, restaurants, etc. — see increasing traffice from snow birds and tourists. That’s not happening this year.

Statewide, unemployment increased to 11.5 percent in November from 11.3 percent in October and 7.2 percent a year ago. The number of Floridians out of work increased to 1.056 million from 1.035 million a month earlier.

Education and health services was the only industry sector showing an increase in jobs during the 12 months through November, up 8,300, or 0.8 percent. All of that came on the health services side, and most of that came from nursing homes.

Other industries: Construction, down 73,300 jobs; trade, transportation and utilities, down 69,500 jobs; professional and business services, down 58,500 jobs; manufacturing, down 41,100.

In Broward County, the jobless rate increased to 10.5 percent from 9.7 percent a month earlier and 6.5 percent a year ago.

In Miami-Dade, the rate dropped to 10.5 percent from 11.8 percent in October but higher than the 6.2 percent a year ago.