Local Unemployment Up In Florida, Down In Alabama Over Past Year

September 18, 2010

The latest job numbers released Friday showed increases in unemployment in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties over the past year, while the employment outlook has improved in Escambia County, Alabama.

Greg Evers, the state representative whose district includes a large portion of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, called for changes to improve the employment situation in Florida — including an Arizona-style immigration law.

“I am very concerned by today’s employment numbers and what seems to be a downward spiraling trend,” Evers said Friday. “We have to make serious changes in the coming year to combat unemployment, such as reducing taxes and restrictions on small businesses so they can put more Floridians back to work, and also by passing an immigration law that is similar to Arizona’s original law. We need to make sure that Floridians are not losing job opportunities to illegal immigrants and that all our neighbors have the opportunity to provide for themselves and their families.”

Escambia County’s unemployment fell slightly— down from 11.0 percent in July to 10.9 percent in august. That represented 184 jobs gained in a month for a total county unemployment of 15,607 people. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was 9.8 percent.

Santa Rosa County also recorded an a slight decrease in unemployment— from 10.8 percent in July to 10.7 percent in August. Santa Rosa County gained 20 jobs during the period, with a total of 7,869 persons unemployed. The year-ago unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 9.7 percent.

The unemployment rate in Escambia County, Ala., held steady over the month at 10.9 percent, representing 1,581 unemployed. Last year’s unemployment rate for the same period in Escambia County was 13.5 percent.

Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, at 9.2 percent in August, dropped from July’s rate of 9.7 percent and was below the year-ago rate of 10.6 percent.

Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for August 2010 iss 11.7 percent. This represents 1,084,000 jobless out of a labor force of 9,229,000. The unemployment rate is 0.2 percentage point higher than the July rate of 11.5 percent.

“Although Florida’s unemployment rate has slightly increased, there are still positive indicators of recovery. This is the second consecutive month with an increase in the number of jobs from the previous year,” said AWI Director Cynthia R. Lorenzo. “Historically, mixed signals from economic indicators during the bottom of a recession are common until the economy recovers. Fluctuations in rates of unemployment and job growth are typical examples.”

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News