Pinellas Jobless Rate Dips Again – Is the Economy Picking Up?

The Pinellas County jobless rate dropped slightly in April, beating the overall unemployment rate in Tampa Bay and Florida, the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Pinellas County's rated dropped from 6.7 percent in March to 6.5 percent in April. (Looking for work? Check out Classified Job Listings on the Gulfport Patch.)

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There's more good news. The overall jobless rate across Tampa Bay – including Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Citrus and Hernando Counties – decreased from 6.9 to 6.7 percent, according to the Tampa Bay Times, quoting figures from the state Department of Economic Opportunity.

Florida's unemployment rate fell to 7.2 percent in April, from 7.5 percent in March. This is the lowest since 2008.

Here are unemployment rates of some Florida counties:

• Hillsborough, 6.4 percent,
• Pinellas, 6.5 percent,
• Pasco, 7.3 percent, 
• Citrus, at 7.6 percent.

The state added 17,000 jobs from March to April, and 119,000 jobs from
April 2012, according to the state figures quoted in the article.

Does it feel like the economy is picking up? Let us know in the comments below.

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