After dropping sharply to 9.4 percent in June–down almost five points from the month before–Flagler County’s unemployment rate rose again, to 10.2 percent in July, a reflection of the coronavirus resurgence that began and June, again diminishing economic activity even as Floridians willingly returned to the workforce in large numbers.
Florida’s unemployment rate rose to 11.3 percent, up a point from the revised June rate. There were 1.125 million officially unemployed Floridians–a figure that does not reflect the number of Floridians who are not counted as unemployed because they are not following the state’s strict guidelines in order to be counted. Floridians who have dropped out of the workforce out of discouragement, or who are not actively seeking work, are not counted as unemployed.
Flagler’s unemployment rolls increased by 400 in July, to 4,643. A year ago, just under 2,000 Flagler residents were collecting unemployment. The number of Flagler residents holding jobs actually increased by 400 as well, to almost 41,000. The seeming contradiction is explained by the 800-person increase in Flagler’s workforce, which had shrunk significantly in spring as workers dropped out of it–not voluntarily: the state’s fitful unemployment system did not count hundreds of thousands of unemployed because of its backlog. The result was that the local labor force shrunk artificially, and is still lower than it was a year ago by almost 2,000 workers.
Steep as it is, some 20 counties have higher unemployment rates than Flagler’s, with Osceola’s at 20.2 percent and Orange’s at 16.1 percent, a reflection of those two counties’ heavy reliance on tourism and conferences. Disney World reopened in Orlando in July even as the state had become covid-19’s epicenter (more than 19,000 people had signed a petition calling on Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Disney company to delay the opening).
Florida was set to cross the 600,000-case mark today, second-most in the nation behind California, and this week exceeded 10,000 deaths in total from covid-19, the fifth-highest tally in the nation.
The state’s workforce increased by 223,000, or 2.3 percent, compared to June, and the economy restored nearly 78,000 jobs, half of those jobs in leisure and hospitality–the sector hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic. But the sector is still 254,000 jobs short of where it was a year ago, with over 200,000 of those jobs in restaurants and bars. While most sectors gained some jobs last moth, almost all remain well below the job levels of a year ago. Retail, for example, restored 6,400 jobs last month but is 40,000 jobs below year-ago levels. Real estate, rental and leasing added 1,100 jobs but is 12,800 jobs short of levels a year ago. Federal, state and local governments added 3,800 jobs in July, but are 7,500 jobs short of year-ago levels.
Overall, the state economy is half a million jobs short of where it was a year ago. Florida lost 1,178,100 jobs from February to April, gaining back less than half so far (572,200 jobs) even though the governor has ordered the economy reopened in all sectors but for bars. But it’s consumers who have defined the economy’s strength and weaknesses: they remain leery of venturing too much into stores and restaurants.
The full unemployment report is below.
FlaglerLive relies on a strong core of donors. But they’re just a fraction of the 25,000 readers who daily depend on FlaglerLive for reliable, fearless reporting and analysis you cannot get anywhere else. If you’re still on the sidelines, we need you to join the Friends of FlaglerLive today. Elections, storms, the latest catastrophe - when dependable and factual local reporting will be more essential than ever, take a stand for integrity and have a direct voice in fostering serious journalism in your community. As little as $10 makes a difference, or better still, become a monthly donor: Become a "Friend of" FlaglerLive, a 501(c)(3) non-profit news organization. Donations are tax deductible. Think of it as buying a "scoop", in every sense of the term!
Reader Interactions
Comments
Leave a Reply
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Only Me says
If the virus continues to grow in Florida at the rate is has I do not see how anyone in their right mind can brag that our economy is great in Florida especially with the increase numbers of those filing for unemployment.
Tourism is way down which also has effected Florida’s economy but DeSantis has brushed all this data under the carpet as if we are also suppose to ignore it as he does.
Only Me says
SO TELL ME IS IT REALLY SAFE TO HAVE YOUR CHILDREN BACK IN SCHOOLS?
6-year-old girl becomes youngest to die of coronavirus in Florida
1 hr ago
WESH Orlando logo6-year-old girl becomes youngest to die of coronavirus in Florida
A 6-year-old girl from Hillsborough County has become the youngest Florida resident to die after contracting COVID-19, according to the Florida Department of Health records.
Fredrick says
And yet we can not get people to come in for a job interview to work and why should they? They can sit on their ass at home and get the extra check from the government beyond what they get from unemployment. When the first extra $600 per week stopped we had people come in and hired them. As soon as the second started no one will come in. So the unemployment rate being shown is bullshit. Some of that rate is the “Lazy Ass, Free Loader” rate. As soon as the extra money stops you will see the unemployment rate drop. It’s all smoke and mirrors and politics. The left want people at home and report a high unemployment rate and blame Trump.
Former Resident says
Your angry comments reflect more on you than it does on the “lazy ass freeloaders” you’re directing your anger at. You obviously pay peanuts and expect people to show up and be delighted to lick your boots. Why wouldn’t people simply go where the money is? Do you make poor economic decisions for yourself, your family, or your business just for the sake of bragging rights about what a hard worker you are? You need to take a hard look and why your company is NOT a viable option for the currently unemployed!
snapperhead says
I can’t believe” Lazy Ass, Free Loaders” exist in a Trump county. So what company are you referring to as “we” that is hiring? I suspect it’s BS, so enlighten the job seekers who are actually wanting to work by disclosing the company. Otherwise it sounds like a made up story to support your “team”. Those damn lefties, like DeSantis, shutting down bars and limiting restaurant capacity so Trump looks bad pisses me off too. Murica…Trump/Covid 2020 Make American Graves Again!
Jim R says
If you’re making more on unemployment than you do working, it means that your pay for working needs to increase by at least the same amount.
Helen says
The whole point of the extra bonus money for unemployment was to entice people to stay home and not go to work to help slow the spread of covid. What dont you understand? People are choosing goverment funded saftey over high risk work.
Dennis C Rathsam says
Thank Ruby Tuesday for closing the doors, without telling thier employees. What Class
E.Hoffa says
WOW! There should be a law against a business doing that! But you will NEVER that Law in Florida!