A statement released today by the Agency for Workforce Innovation (AWI) reveals that the unemployment rate in Orange County was 12.3 percent in January 2010, up 0.6 percent points from the December rate of 11.7 percent and up from 8.8 percent one year ago. January’s jobless rate in Orange County is the highest in more than three decades and exceeds the unemployment rate in Florida by 0.4 percentage points.
Orange County total employment in January was 524,523 representing a decline of 6,318 jobs (-1.2 %) over the month and a job loss of 20,710 jobs, or -3.8 percent compared to January 2009.
According to the statement, Metro Orlando (Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties) experienced a 12.4 percent unemployment in January, up 0.6 percent points from the December rate of 11.8 percent and up from 8.8 percent in January 2009.
Meanwhile, the unemployment rate in Florida topped 11.9 percent in January 2010, up 0.2 percent point from the December revised rate of 11.7 percent, and up from 8.7 percent one year ago. Â January’s rate is the highest since 35 years ago when a similar rate was recorded in May 1975.
The number of jobs in Florida was 7,144,300, down 303,200 in January 2010 compared to a year ago. The industry losing the most jobs is construction (-90,700 jobs, -20.4 percent). Other industries losing jobs over the year include, trade, transportation and utilities. Private education and health services is the only sector gaining jobs among Florida’s major industries, the AWI statement said.
However, there maybe some relief in sight as, Governor Charlie Crist announced today that AWI, in partnership with the Florida Department of Children and Families, Workforce Florida Inc., and the state’s Regional Workforce Boards, will receive its first installment of $61.2 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the $200 million Florida Back to Work initiative.
Also, temporary employment is coming in the form of Census Bureau jobs where Florida anticipates that some 64,000 Floridians will be employed from now until September with salaries in the $9-$16 per hour range.
Florida’s unemployment rate, while it continues to increase, is higher than the national average which held steady at 9.7 percent in January.
See Full Statement on Florida’s January Unemployment Here.
