Jeff Ostrowski
Alexandra Clough
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Jobs market still hampered by housing slowdown, Florida stats say
Palm Beach County’s unemployment rate dipped ever so slightly in September, but state statistics don’t paint a picture of a strengthening job market.
Rather, the jobless rate fell because fewer people were looking for work, the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation said today. Palm Beach County unemployment dipped to 7.3 percent in September from 7.4 percent in August. However, the total number of jobs in the county fell to 607,657 from 608,703 a month earlier, and the total number of people in the labor force declined.
Martin County’s jobless rate held steady at 7.6 percent. It added eight jobs from August to September.
St. Lucie County unemployment rose to 10.2 percent from 10.1 percent, the third-highest jobless rate in the state. St. Lucie County added 13 jobs for the month, but the number of people seeking work rose slightly.
Florida’s statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stayed at 6.6 percent as the housing downturn and mortgage meltdown continued to hammer the state’s economy.
Florida lost 115,500 jobs over the past year. Construction employers shed 71,900 jobs.
See the state report here.
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