Although the country is still in the midst of a recession, fewer Florida jobs were lost last month.
During April, the State of Florida saw its unemployment rate decrease from 9.8 percent to 9.6 percent, which is still higher than the national unemployment rate of 8.9 percent. This is the first time since March 2006 that the state has seen a decrease in its unemployment rate.
Florida had an unemployment rate of 7.2 percent during November 2008, 7.6 percent during December 2008, 8.8 percent during January, 9.6 percent during February, 9.8 percent during March and 9.6 percent during April.
Florida had a total non-farm employment of 7,451,000 workers during April, according to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is up from 7,449,700 workers during March, but a 4.9 percent decrease from last year.
Although fewer workers were without jobs last month, only one industry added jobs when compared to last year. The education and health services industry employed 1,059,200 workers during April, down from 1,063,100 workers during March, but a 1.6 percent increase from last year.
The manufacturing industry took the biggest hit when it comes to over-the-year employment. The industry employed 339,100 workers during April, down from 343,300 workers during March and a 10.4 percent decrease from last year.
The other industries that saw an over-the-year decrease in jobs include:
- trade, transportation and utilities by 5 percent
- information by 6.1 percent
- financial activities by 4.3 percent
- professional and business services by 6.7 percent
- leisure and hospitality by 4.3 percent
- other services by 3.9 percent
- government by .8 percent
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