Local Unemployment Rate Declines

October 21, 2017

The latest job numbers  show the employment rate falling in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

Escambia County’s seasonably adjusted unemployment rate fell to 3.4 percent in September, down front 4.1 percent in August..  There were 4,928 people reported unemployed  during the period. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was 5.1 percent.

Santa Rosa County’s unemployment rate dropped from 4.0 to 3.1 percent from August to September. Santa Rosa County had a total of  2,470 persons still unemployed. The year-ago unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 4.7 percent.

Florida’s jobless rate dropped 0.2 percentage points in September — to 3.8 percent — even though the number of people with jobs fell by 42,000 from August. Gov. Rick Scott attributed the drop in the state’s unemployment rate to Hurricane Irma, a massive storm that swept throughout the state early last month. The estimated figures posted Friday by the Department of Economic Opportunity also stripped Monroe County — still reeling from the powerful storm that made initial landfall in the Keys on Sept. 10 — of its long-held position of the state’s lowest jobless mark.

“Hurricane Irma was the largest storm we have seen, which affected our entire state and led to the largest evacuation and power restoration effort,” Scott said in a release Friday. “Obviously, our jobs numbers were affected because of this. Florida is a resilient state and we are working around the clock to rebuild and recover from this unprecedented storm.”

The state figures mirror the federal rate, which fell to 4.2 percent in September from 4.4 in August, but also saw jobless claims grow, in large part to Hurricane Harvey’s impact on Texas.

The jobless numbers released by the state 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

2 Responses to “Local Unemployment Rate Declines”

  1. Tom on October 21st, 2017 11:35 am

    As per North Escambia employment has continued to decline for quite a while, What I am interested in is it minimum wages jobs driving this down or middle to higher class jobs? From my own research it appears also that quite a few job seekers have given up and took early retirement or or just homeless. And Sense the the GOP Just cut 1.4 Trillion from Medicare and Medicaid yesterday to lower taxes to the rich again per trickle down economics, also did I not mention the cuts to 401k down to a max of just under 3 grand that can go per year vs previous up to 19 grand under previous Presidents! Under the new GOP proposed new tax reform. Great days to come… cant wait till the middle class, at least whats left is finally broke The maybe great the inequity collapse going on will cause riots for a New New FDR Deal. Don’t fool yourself the public will alone take so much taxes cuts that do nothing for the poor but cut social programs to fund. You just cannot not cut taxes year after year after year and expect the money to not come from some programs likely the very things that keep the poor south alive. Southern states contribute 35% of GDP not including what they get back in social programs.

  2. Construction Superintendent on October 21st, 2017 6:01 am

    17 years as a skilled tradesman
    (Started directly our of high school)

    Our unemployment rate could be much lower. Our company runs adds non-stop to hire more people, yet only a few apply.

    As far as hiring a qualified technician, good luck. Maybe instead of unemployment pay they could give skilled trade classes with pay, then they can have some additional skills that will help get a job. Also having more skilled trade classes to our school systems would help our younger generations hire into good paying jobs straight our of school, many young applicants can’t name any tools or materials used in construction.

    Many people have no drive to work and support their families. They will complain about money and then lay out of work for little to no reason. We need more push for people to get up, turn off the Xbox, find a job, show up to work and give their employer a good weeks work, then hold their hand out for a payday they earned to take care of their own family. Not hold their hand out for free stuff