For Immediate Release |
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Florida’s July Unemployment Figures Released
~AWI continues to provide easy access to workforce services ~
TALLAHASSEE – Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for July 2008 is 6.1 percent. This represents 572,000 jobless out of a labor force of 9,333,000. The unemployment rate is up 0.6 percentage point from the June rate of 5.5 percent and is up 2.0 percentage points from the July 2007 rate. Florida’s July 2008 unemployment rate is the highest since January 1995, which was 6.5 percent. The state’s current unemployment rate is 0.4 percentage point higher than the national unemployment rate of 5.7 percent.
Florida’s annual nonagricultural employment growth rate for July 2008 is -1.2 percent. The rate represents a loss of 96,800 jobs from July 2007, to reach a total employment level of 7,924,000. This is slower than the national job growth rate for July which is nearly unchanged (but slightly negative) from the previous year. The July 2008 job growth rate continues the trend of negative over-the-year growth that began in September 2007, primarily due to declines in construction.
“Our Agency continues to work diligently to ensure that all Floridians have easy access to the wide variety of workforce services available,” said Monesia T. Brown, Director of the Agency for Workforce Innovation. “A top priority of our Agency is strengthening Florida's economy by providing vital support to our state's businesses and job seekers.”
The Agency for Workforce Innovation works closely with its partners, including Workforce Florida, Inc. and the state’s 24 Regional Workforce Boards, to provide critical workforce programs throughout the state and further the Governor’s priority of developing world-class talent.
For Florida’s job seekers, programs and services offered include:
- One-Stop Career Centers – Florida’s 88 One-Stop Career Centers, locally operated by Regional Workforce Boards, provide local access to job placement services, local workforce information and job training opportunities. Follow this link for a Map of Florida One-Stop Career Centers. (http://www.floridajobs.org/onestop/onestopdir/index.htm)
- Employ Florida Marketplace - The Employ Florida Marketplace Online Job Bank provides 24/7 access to a wide variety of local, state and national job openings. Follow this link to access the Employ Florida Marketplace. (http://www.employflorida.com/)
- Mobile One-Stop Career Centers – Florida’s Mobile One-Stop Career Centers allow citizens in rural areas, at job fairs and during emergency situations to access critical workforce information and services.
For Florida’s businesses, programs and services offered include:
- Employ Florida Marketplace - The Employ Florida Marketplace Online Job Bank provides businesses with exposure to thousands of potential employees with a vast array of skills, talents and experience. Follow this link to access the Employ Florida Marketplace. (http://www.employflorida.com/)
- Labor Market Information – The Agency for Workforce Innovation’s Labor Market Statistics Center produces data, such as employment, unemployment and wage information, that assist workforce/economic development, education, employers and job seekers. These statistics assist with economic analysis, business recruitment, career counseling and other critical business decision-making. Follow this link for information about the Agency’s Labor Market Statistics Center. (http://www.labormarketinfo.com/)
- Incumbent and Employed Worker Training - Incumbent and Employed Worker Training programs increase opportunities for workers who acquire new skills by reimbursing Florida’s businesses for a portion of the cost of training their employees.
- Follow this link for information about the Incumbent Worker Training program, administered by Workforce Florida, Inc. (http://www.workforceflorida.com/employers/iwt.htm)
- Follow this link for information about the Employed Worker Training program, administered by your local Regional Workforce Board. (http://www.floridajobs.org/onestop/onestopdir/index.htm)
- Work Opportunity Tax Credit - The Work Opportunity Tax Credit offers a financial incentive to private, for-profit employers to hire individuals from certain targeted groups, who experience high rates of unemployment due to a variety of employment barriers. Follow this link for information about the Work Opportunity Tax Credit. (http://www.floridajobs.org/workforce/wotc.html)
For more information on these and other Agency for Workforce Innovation programs, go to www.FloridaJobs.org.
Note:
The unemployment and job growth rates are estimates, which are primarily based on surveys created and mandated by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics in cooperation with the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation.
The unemployment rate is derived from Florida household surveys conduced by the US Census Bureau under contract with the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The job growth rate is derived from Florida employer surveys conducted by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Both estimates are revised on a monthly basis. In addition, these estimates are benchmarked (revised) annually based on actual counts from Florida's Unemployment Compensation tax records and other data.
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The Agency for Workforce Innovation is Florida's lead workforce agency and directly administers the state's various workforce and unemployment programs and the Office of Early Learning. Workforce development policy and guidance are provided by Workforce Florida, Inc. Partnering together, along with the 24 Regional Workforce Boards that deliver services through 88 One-Stop Career Centers around the state, they compose the Employ Florida network.
The next Florida Employment and Unemployment release will be on September 19, 2008 at 10:00 A.M.