The numbers are out and once again unemployment goes up in Citrus County by a fraction of a percentage point while the state over all stays the same.
Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in June 2011 is 10.6 percent. This represents 982,000 jobless out of a labor force of 9,234,000. The state’s unemployment rate is unchanged from May 2011 but is 0.8 percentage point lower than the June 2010 rate of 11.4 percent. The U.S. unemployment rate is 9.2 percent in June.
Florida’s seasonally adjusted total nonagricultural employment in June 2011 is 7,247,000, an increase of 4,300 jobs (+0.1 percent) from May 2011. Florida has gained 85,500 jobs from January through June 2011.
Citrus County’s unemployment rate edged up .8% in June. Citrus’s workforce is 58,131 with 51,299 currently employed leaves 6,832 people out of work or an 11.8% unemployment rate. In May we had a larger workforce of 58,417 people with 6,397 people out of work. Not only are more people out of work, but almost 300 job positions have actually disappeared.
“While Florida’s continued pattern of job growth is good news, we still have much work to do to restore our state’s economy to pre-recession levels, and that effort remains our highest priority,” said Agency for Workforce Innovation Director Cynthia R. Lorenzo. “Under Governor Scott’s leadership and through Florida’s nationally recognized workforce services, we are committed to ensuring our employers and potential employers have the support they need to succeed and create the jobs that will continue Florida’s forward momentum.”
The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey for the third quarter of 2011 finds Florida employers are becoming more confident about their staffing plans. The survey found 17 percent of the companies interviewed plan to hire more employees from July to September, while another 70 percent expect to maintain their current staff levels.
In June 2011, Monroe County has the state’s lowest unemployment rate (6.6 percent), followed by Walton County (6.9 percent); Liberty County (7.0 percent); Okaloosa County (7.4 percent); and Lafayette County (7.7 percent). Most of the counties with the lowest unemployment rates are those with relatively high proportions of government employment. Others had seasonal increases in tourism-related employment.
Hendry County has the highest unemployment rate (16.2 percent) in Florida in June 2011, followed by Flagler
County (14.6 percent); Miami-Dade County (13.9 percent); Hernando County (13.8 percent); and Indian River County (13.5 percent). Seasonal declines in agriculture and related industries contributed to Hendry County’s high unemployment rate. There were 38 Florida counties with double-digit unemployment rates in June.
Citrus County is ranked 14th in the state for the highest unemployment rate. On the brighter side we are a full 1% lower from June 2010 which was 12.8%
