New numbers released Monday by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity reveals that the jobless rate in the Central Florida (Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Sumter counties) region in January was 6.0 percent.
Out of a labor force of 1,195,459, there were 71,371 unemployed residents in the region.
Orange County recorded an unemployment rate of 5.9 percent in January, with 5.5 percent and 5.4 percent in Seminole and Sumter counties, respectively. Lake and Osceola counties’ unemployment rates were both 6.7 percent.
Statewide, unemployment dipped to 6.1 percent. About 581,000 Floridians remained out of work.
State economists say, Florida’s declining jobless rate is largely due to people leaving the labor force or delaying their job search. However, Gov. Rick Scott has claimed otherwise, saying his policies are working.
The majority of the state’s jobs are largely low wage in the hospitality and other service sectors.
The national unemployment rate is 6.6 percent.
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