Florida Unemployment Rate Hits 11.9%

[DemocratSinceBirth]

Florida’s jobless rate crept up to 11.9 percent in January, the highest level in almost 35 years and up two-tenths of a point from the revised December rate of 11.7.

The new figure is 3.2 percentage points higher than a year ago and more than 2 percentage points higher than the national average of 9.7, according to Florida’s Agency for Workforce Innovation. It represents about 1.1 million unemployed workers out a total labor force of 9.2 million. About 303,000 jobs have been lost in the last year alone.

In metro Orlando, the unemployment rate was 12.4 percent, up more than half a point from the December rate. Since January 2009, the jobless rate here has increased by 3.6 percent.

State economists have predicted that Florida’s unemployment rate will peak at 12.3 percent sometime this summer. Though the biggest job cuts seem to be over and some economic indicators have begun to turn around, the labor market remains soft, especially in states that rely heavily on the construction industry.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_local_blogonomics/2010/03/state-unemployment-rate-reaches-11-9-percent.html

[DemocratSinceBirth]

1. Florida Is The Land Of The Independent Contractor

The situation is actually worse on the ground.

[Donnachaidh]

2. that's right -- those folks aren't even counted!

Any ideas on what the REAL unemployment figures *should* be?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. If

If you include the unemployed, the underemployed, the too discourage to look for a job, and the hordes of independent contractors, the rate is probably 25%.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

5. 25% Now there's a believable number, and Florida is not an isolated

situation. We are quickly coming to the boiling point.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

9. U6 Which Is A Government Figure

U6 includes the unemployed, the underemployed, and the too discouraged to look. I don't know if they use it state by state but it has to be 20% in Fl if it's 16.8% in the rest of the country.

[Dappleganger]

7. It's definitely worse...

underemployment is rampant, so many people around me who have lost their benefits and hardly scraping by. The graduates have nowhere to go but out of state, either.

[Aviation Pro]

4. It really sucks when an entire state's economy is based...

...on tourism and jobs that won't come back (such as construction) for a long time.

As far as I'm concerned - as someone who will be returning to Florida - this is good because it will force the state to start to develop an economy that isn't based on bullshit.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

6. It Isn't Like FL Isn't Trying To Diversify

You have a lot of light industry, mecical research, and high tech businesses. But the problem is it's as hard for state economies to reinvent themselves as it is for people.

[Dappleganger]

8. As with many other states, those businesses are leaving

like crazy. The state/city gives them free taxpayer money then the biz will turn around and leave for another sweet deal someplace else. It's SICK.

[Mari333]

10. welcome to michigan :)

[Dappleganger]

11. You know...

there's a TON of Michiganites down here in FL. That must be awful to have to endure this nightmare twice in one lifetime.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

12. At Least Their Warmer

But this has been one of the coldest winters in history.

[progressoid]

13. Well, that depends on where you live.

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/?report=global&year=2010&month=1&submitted=Get+Report