ICYMI: Florida Unemployment Rates Show Improvements Across State

LAKELAND, FL — Unemployment rates were down in 224 metropolitan areas across the country in a year-over-year comparison of September data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on Wednesday. Rates had climbed in 141 of the 387 areas covered by the report, but the news was mostly good for communities across the state of Florida.

On the national level, the federal government reported 26 metro areas recorded unemployment rates of less than 3 percent in September 2016 while only three areas logging numbers of 10 percent or higher. Non-farm payroll employment had climbed over the year in a total of 315 metro areas. Sixty-five areas, however, saw non-farm jobs numbers drop while seven areas remained the same. The national unemployment rate for September 2016, not seasonally adjusted, was 4.8 percent.

The federal report covers 22 metropolitan statistical areas in the Sunshine State.

Florida’s total number of unemployed came in at 489,607 in September 2016, which was an improvement over September 2015 numbers of 513,732. The overall unemployment rate for the state was 5 percent, down from 5.3 last September. Metro areas across the state witnessed reductions in year-over-year unemployment rates.

Here’s a look at the numbers for metro areas in the state’s west central and southwestern regions:

• Lakeland-Winter Haven – The number of unemployed was down from 17,431 in September 2015 to 16,672 in 2016. The overall unemployment rate was recorded at 5.9 percent, down from 6.2 percent.
• North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton – The total number of unemployed in September 2016 was recorded at 16,367, down from 16,913 in September 2015. The 4.7 percent unemployment rate showed improvements from September 2015’s 4.9 percent.
• Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater – Slight improvements were also witnessed in this area with the estimated number of jobless at 69,168 in September 2016, down from 71,781 in the same month last year. The unemployment rate was set at 4.7 percent, down from 4.9 percent in September 2015.

To read the full report, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics online.

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