The Agency for Work Force Innovation (AWI) announced today that, Florida’s unemployment rate for October 2009 rose to 11.2 percent, 0.1 percent higher that it was in September 2009 and up 4.3 percentage points from October 2008. Some, 1,027,000 Floridians are jobless, out of a labor force of 9.2 million people.
Meanwhile, Florida’s current unemployment rate is 1.0 percentage point higher than the national unemployment rate of 10.2 percent. October’s rate was the highest since June 1975 when it was also 11.2 percent. The last time it was higher was May 1975 when it was 11.9 percent.
The October 2009 job loss continues the trend of annual declines that began in August 2007. Florida’s rate of job decline has moderated over the last few months, moving from -5.4 percent in March 2009 to -4.4 percent in October 2009.
According to AWI, the industries losing the most jobs are trade, transportation, and utilities; professional and business services; and construction. These three industries account for more than two-thirds of the job losses in the state. Healthcare has been Florida’s only growth sector for most of 2009.
“This rate indicates that Florida’s families and businesses are still facing challenges, while fewer job losses reveal slight improvement in the economic climate,” said Agency for Workforce Innovation Director Cynthia R. Lorenzo. “We remain committed to serving the needs of unemployed workers and employers through Florida’s dynamic network of job placement and training services.”
AWI continues to enhance customer services to meet record demand. A new feature on the agency’s website, www.floridajobs.org, allows unemployment compensation customers to search online to find out whether they might be eligible to receive benefits under the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Tier III program, signed into law by President Obama on November 6, 2009. The agency expects to begin making payments under the new program early next month.
Florida’s workforce system provides critical programs and services to job seekers and businesses alike. Such services offered throughout the state include:
Employ Florida Marketplace: The Employ Florida Marketplace Online Job Bank provides 24/7 access to a wide variety of local, state and national job openings. Follow this link to access the Employ Florida Marketplace. (www.employflorida.com/).
One-Stop Career Centers: Florida’s nearly 90 One-Stop Career Centers, locally operated by Regional Workforce Boards, provide local access to job placement services, local workforce information and job training opportunities. Follow this link for a Map of Florida One-Stop Career Centers. (www.floridajobs.org/onestop/onestopdir/index.htm)
Mobile One-Stop Career Centers: Florida’s Mobile One-Stop Career Centers allow citizens in rural areas, at job fairs and during disasters or other emergencies to access critical workforce information and services.
Ready to Work Credential: The Florida Ready to Work Credential program provides a career readiness certificate signed by Governor Charlie Crist that verifies the employee or job seeker has the foundational workplace skills required for most positions. Of value to both businesses looking to hire and workers seeking to find or maintain employment, Ready to Work is a free program funded by the State of Florida. For more information, please visit www.floridareadytowork.com or call 1-877-444-4505.
Labor Market Information: The Agency for Workforce Innovation’s Labor Market Statistics Center produces data such as employment, unemployment and wage information that assist workforce/economic development, education, employers and job seekers. These statistics assist with economic analysis, business recruitment, career counseling and other critical business decision-making. Follow this link for information about the Agency’s Labor Market Statistics Center. Labor Market Statistics Center (www.labormarketinfo.com/)
Work Opportunity Tax Credit: The Work Opportunity Tax Credit offers a financial incentive to private, forprofit employers to hire individuals from certain targeted groups who experience high rates of unemployment due to a variety of employment barriers. Follow this link for information about the Work Opportunity Tax Credit. (www.floridajobs.org/workforce/wotc.html)
For more information on these and other Agency for Workforce Innovation programs, go to
www.FloridaJobs.org.
11.2 also means almost all of us know at least one person who is unemployed. I’ll suggest a possible solution, because it’s helped me to pay off some bills with new skills I can use anywhere. It can also make off-time a lot more productive. http://leavethejobbehind.com