It’s getting to be that even the economies of Sweden, the Netherlands and Denmark, among the better performers of the Eurozone can envy Flagler County’s unemployment rate, which fell to a post-recession low of 6.1 percent in April, according to figures released by the state’s labor department this morning.
Flagler’s unemployment rate last month was helped more by a decline in the labor force of 306 people rather than by an increase in people holding jobs. There were in fact 87 fewer Flagler residents with jobs in April than in March, though the number of Flagler residents on the unemployment rolls also declined, by 219, to 2,616. Overall, there were 40,068 Flagler and Palm Coast residents holding jobs in April, out of a county population of about 100,000 and a labor force of 42,684.
The numbers are a sharp improvement over conditions a year ago, when the unemployment rate stood at 8.3 percent and Flagler was still second only to Hendry County with the state’s highest unemployment rate. In April, Flagler found itself 15 spots from the top of that unenviable position, and edging much closer to Florida’s average unemployment rate, which was 5.6 percent in April. Florida’s unemployment rate has improved over the past year, but not as steeply as Flagler’s. The state added a net 25,000 jobs over the month, with 542,000 Floridians unemployed.
“Everything that helps us get more jobs, it’s the biggest thing for our family, and everything that makes sure that we have a better education system,” Gov. Rick Scott said today ion an appearance on Orlando’s WOFL-TV. “Those are my two priorities since I’ve gotten elected.”
But the majority of the jobs created last month, as has been the case most months during Florida’s recovery, have been in the service sector. In April, tourism jobs grew by 9,200, mostly in accommodation and food services, health care and social assistance added 4,900 jobs, retail added 900, and professional and business services added 6,400. Goods production lost 1,300 jobs, construction lost 2,300, company management lost 700, and local government lost 2,000.
BeachLvr84 says
The majority of the jobs “created” are junk and I don’t see any recovery from that. While I may not be unemployed, I am severely underemployed. That needs to be a consideration – it’s not cut and dry.
marty says
Amen! Every economic story should make this point:
“But the majority of the jobs created last month, as has been the case most months during Florida’s recovery, have been in the service sector.” In the vast majority of service and retail businesses, the jobs are overwhelmingly low-paid, part-time, with no set schedule and poor health benefits, if any.
The new trade deal will only continue the downward spiral – see Kansas as an example of what happens when Republicans get to implement their full economic plan. It’s a disaster (Salon.com has a great story today on the lies that sold their plan and the lies being told now about it) that will only become the norm even more as TPP takes effect.
Our system is rotten and corrupt to the core.
Gladfly says
Yep and they’re all minimum wage service jobs which means the the adult children will never move out of the house. Good job Palm Coast. Now they have beer,cigarette and lottery ticket money.
Ron R. says
This is Florida.
The majority of jobs here have ALWAYS been, and will likely continue to be in the service sector.
After all, we are a tourism state, not a manufacturing state.
Obama 2015 says
Republicans don’t create jobs for Americans.
Anonymous says
Those numbers can not be accurate because you can only collect unemployment for 12 weeks
I have been out of work for 1 year
Anonymous says
True words