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Florida's June Unemployment Rate Stalls in June

Posted: 8:13 AM Jul 20, 2012
Reporter: Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- July 20, 2012 -

The percentage of jobless in Florida stands at 8.6 percent for a second straight month.

The recently reorganized and newly named Department of Economic Opportunity said Friday the seasonally adjusted rate for June remained unchanged from the May figure and that nearly 800,000 Floridians remain jobless.

Republican Gov. Rick Scott has made creating jobs the centerpiece of his administration. Scott campaigned on a pledge to create 700,000 new jobs in seven years. Although the rate has dropped since Scott became governor, state economists say Florida's unemployment rate has improved largely because people have left the work force, not because they are finding jobs.

Scott argues the state's dropping unemployment rate is because of changes he has been pushing such as removing regulations he believes deter creating jobs.