AWI Press Release:

TALLAHASSEE –

Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for October 2009 is 11.2 percent. This represents 1,027,000 jobless out of a labor force of 9,175,000. The unemployment rate is nearly unchanged from the revised September rate of 11.1 percent, but is up 4.3 percentage points from the October 2008 rate.

The state’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.

Florida’s total nonagricultural employment in October 2009 is 7,340,200, representing a job loss of 339,600, or -4.4 percent compared to October 2008. This is steeper than the national rate of decline for October which is

-4.0 percent over the year. 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.

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. (www.labormarketinfo.com/.)

· Work Opportunity Tax Credit: The Work Opportunity Tax Credit offers a financial incentive to private, for-profit 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.

United States and Florida Unemployment Rates (seasonally adjusted)

Source: Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation, Labor Market Statistics Center, Local Area Unemployment

Statistics Program, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Florida’s Nonagricultural Employment by Industry (Seasonally Adjusted)

· The number of jobs in Florida is 7,340,200, down 339,600 in October 2009 compared to a year ago. The industry losing the most jobs is trade, transportation, and utilities (-86,100 jobs, -5.5 percent).

· Other industries losing jobs over the year include: professional and business services (-75,100 jobs, -6.6 percent); construction (-74,100 jobs, -15.2 percent); manufacturing (-44,600 jobs, -12.2 percent); financial activities (-27,200 jobs, -5.2 percent); leisure and hospitality (-22,400 jobs, -2.4 percent); total government (-10,300 jobs, -0.9 percent); information (-6,700 jobs, -4.4 percent); and other services (-4,500 jobs, -1.3 percent).

· These industry job losses are partially due to weakness in motor vehicle and parts dealers; employment services; specialty trade contractors; fabricated metal product manufacturing; credit intermediation; amusement, gambling, and recreation; local government; publishing industries; and personal and laundry services.

· Private education and health services (+11,700 jobs, +1.1 percent) is the only sector gaining jobs among Florida’s major industries. All of the increase is due to health care and social assistance (+14,400 jobs, +1.6 percent), primarily in nursing and residential care facilities. Private education declined by 2,700 jobs (-1.9 percent) over the year.

Local Area Unemployment Statistics (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

· In October 2009, Liberty County has the state’s lowest unemployment rate (5.4 percent), followed by Monroe County (7.0 percent); Alachua and Leon counties (7.1 percent each); Jackson County (7.2%); and Lafayette and Walton counties (7.3 percent each). Many of the counties with the lowest unemployment rates are those with relatively high proportions of government employment.

· Flagler County (16.1 percent) has the highest unemployment rate in Florida in October 2009, followed by Hendry County (15.7 percent), Indian River County (14.9 percent), St. Lucie County (14.7 percent), and Hernando County (13.8 percent). The counties with high unemployment rates have either a high proportion of agricultural employees or continued weakness in construction and manufacturing.

Area Nonagricultural Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

· All metro areas in the state lost jobs over the year in October 2009. Metro areas with the steepest declines include Naples-Marco Island (-7.3 percent, -8,900 jobs); Cape Coral-Ft. Myers (-6.8 percent, -14,300 jobs); Palm Coast (-6.6 percent, -1,200 jobs); Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice (-6.4 percent, -16,900 jobs); and Sebastian-Vero Beach (-6.3 percent, -2,900 jobs).