Unemployment Up In Escambia, Down In Santa Rosa

October 24, 2010

The latest job numbers show a slight increase in the number of unemployed in Escambia County, Fla., while Santa Rosa County had over 800 people return to work during the same monthly period.

Escambia County’s unemployment increased slightly— up from 10.9  percent in August  to 11 percent in September. That represented a couple dozen jobs lost in a month for a total county unemployment of 15,696 people. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was 9.9 percent.

Santa Rosa County also recorded an a full percentage point drop in unemployment— from 10.7 percent in August to 9.7 percent in September. Santa Rosa County gained 846 jobs during the period, with a total of 6,993 persons still unemployed. The year-ago unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 9.5 percent.

The unemployment rate in Escambia County, Ala., held decreased slightly over the month from 10.9 to 10.6 percent, representing 1,533 unemployed. Last year’s unemployment rate for the same period in Escambia County was 13 percent.

Florida’s jobless rate inched up in September to 11.9 percent, an increase blamed on continued sluggishness in housing and credit markets that has idled construction and slowed sales of existing property. September’s rate, released by the Agency for Workforce Innovation, is up slightly from a revised 11.8 percent in August and higher by almost a point from the 11 percent posted in September 2009.

In human terms, the figure translates into 1.1 million Floridians who were unable to find work during the month. The figure does not include those who have stopped looking and others who may have had hours cut back or are working at a part-time positions.

“There are not a lot of bright spots in the employment report,” said Sean Snaith, University of Central Florida economist. “But that should not come as a big surprise. We’ve been forecasting that the unemployment rate would drift up through the end of the year.”

Much the lag has been the result of slow demand growth. In addition, Snaith said many companies have amped up productivity and are bringing existing workers, who may have cut back hours in recent years, to full-time status.

“A lot of firms are being able to handle what increased demand there is with the people they have,” Snaith said. “They don’t need to hire new workers.”

Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, at 8.9 percent in September, declined from the August rate of 9.2 percent but was above the year-ago rate of 10.7 percent.

Comments

4 Responses to “Unemployment Up In Escambia, Down In Santa Rosa”

  1. Interested on October 25th, 2010 1:33 pm

    Bob: I know a man that would be happy to go to work for 12 dollars an hour..is the job still available??

  2. Bob on October 24th, 2010 8:10 pm

    Had an opportunity to offer one of these unemployed a job last week and he replied,”call me later I still have 26 weeks of unemployment left”. Incidentally the job was offered to him at 12 dollars an hour.

  3. Dishearted on October 24th, 2010 7:35 pm

    Bring it on::::: A-MEN, this County/State doesnt want Big business, they only really want Tourist dollars. my question is when they leave, who is left holding the Bill, the ones that is already TAXED to death..

  4. bring it on on October 24th, 2010 5:59 pm

    One thing I absolutely know after living in Florida for over fifty years is that this state and the powers that be do not want any new industry therfore all you will have is service industry jobs or as I like to call it “jo jobs”. I’ve always urged my kids to get an education and get the hell out of Florida.Go to a state that has something to offer like a future.I’m not dogging Florida but it is what it is.There are only two classes of people in Florida and that is rich or poor.I just wish those powers will open their eyes and offer something stable for Floridians children and grandchildren in the very near future. Think about it !

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News