Unemployment Rate Up In Three County Area

June 21, 2014

The latest job numbers released Friday show the unemployment level increasing in the  North Escambia area.

Escambia County’s unemployment rate was up from 5.9 percent in April to 6.2 percent in May.  There were 8,672 people reported unemployed  during the period. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was 7.3 percent.

Santa Rosa County unemployment also increased,  from 5.0 to 5.4 percent from April to May. Santa Rosa County had a total of   4,028 persons still unemployed. The year-ago unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 6.4 percent.

In Escambia County, Alabama, unemployment increased  from 7.9 percent in April  to 8.1  percent in May. That represented 1,125  people unemployed in the county during the month.

Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, still significantly below the 7.5 percent mark of a year ago, has been mostly flat this year, wavering from 6.2 percent in February to 6.3 percent in March and back to 6.2 percent in April before the May increase.

Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, at 6.8 percent in May, was slightly down from April’s rate of 6.9 percent and was above the year-ago rate of 6.4 percent.

The jobless numbers released by Florida and Alabama do not include persons that have given up on finding a job and are no longer reported as unemployed.

The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.

Comments

7 Responses to “Unemployment Rate Up In Three County Area”

  1. Voice of Hardworkers on October 14th, 2014 10:11 am

    I think there are plenty of jobs around for people to have but if they have a mindset like “Angry”, then they’re just going to stay broke and unemployed. I’m 19 and just started work 8 months ago and saved enough off my minimum wage job to put myself through school so that i don’t have to bust my butt for a few dollars the rest of my life. Suck up your pride and do what you have to in order to make ends meet! People aren’t going to just hand you money! The only accurate statement that “Angry” made was that “You get what you pay for!”. I’m paying for a college education and i will get a pay substantial for that after i graduate. If you chose to be lazy and not find a better job or just not work then it’s your fault! No one forced you into your current situation. That’s why I and most my teen friends have two or three jobs and do school! People just need to prioritize and get their crap together instead blaming it on others because minimum wage jobs are NOT meant to live off alone!

  2. David Huie Green on June 24th, 2014 5:23 pm

    If you could not hire anyone for less than any given amount, there are some things you would not pay to have done.
    Few are more generous than you, so they wouldn’t too/either.

  3. Atmore on June 22nd, 2014 5:58 pm

    You people are really something. 10.00 min wage will only sky rocket prices ,, yes people need to work. But why should you be slowed to
    Hire in st a rate someone’s worked 2 years to get to , are they gonna up
    My wage? Hell no. So I say get off your lazy butt and go earn a living

  4. Mark T on June 22nd, 2014 1:15 pm

    Amen angry !! U.S. Companies have been making a concerted effort to drive down wages and benefits for years now, and it has worked well for them .. How does every one like the results of outsourcing and free trade ??

  5. Henry Coe on June 22nd, 2014 8:31 am

    I’m not sure I agree with “Angry”’s comment that 8000+ people aren’t working because they don’t want to work minimum wage jobs. There certainly is validity to that point though especially for single parents who would have to pay for day care and gasoline. 8 hours times $7.50 a day is 60 dollars a day and after subtracting FICA & SS that probably comes out to 50 dollars a day give or take a couple of bucks.
    If you had to take a day off because of a sick kid or car trouble you would never catch up.
    On top of all that you still need to be able to pay for electricity, water, garbage pick up, maybe gas, car insurance, school supplies etc. 7.50 an hour or even 10 dollars an hour is not a livable wage.
    All that being said, I seriously doubt there is any where close to 8000 jobs needing positions filled in Escambia County.
    I would like to learn how many positions are needing filled in Escambia County along with how those numbers break down in need for skill level and/or education and professional/management.
    We need to understand these aspects in order to really understand how bad our unemployment problem is.

  6. Angry on June 22nd, 2014 2:38 am

    Nobody wants to work for minimum wage while a select few get to bathe in riches. Up the minimum wage to $10 and more people would be motivated to go to work and the unemployment rate would not be so high. I currently do not work due to most places asking for hard work and long hours for minimum wage and as far as I am concerned it is just not worth it. You pay me minimum wage and you are going to get minimum work. You get what you pay for plain and simple.

  7. Mark T on June 21st, 2014 3:59 pm

    Thanks, Rick Scott and the Republicans !! Where are all the jobs you guys promised ??