Florida's Unemployment Tops National Average
Ties Record For 40-Year Low
POSTED: Wednesday, March 10, 2010
UPDATED: 5:35 pm EST March 10, 2010
  |
OAKLAND PARK, Fla. -- Florida's unemployment rate is now at 11.9 percent, a level not seen in nearly 40 years.This number, which reflects the job market from January, is up .2 percent from the month before. More than 1.1 million people are looking for work in the state.Workforce One, an agency that links workers with potential employers, has seen a steady demand for services as its facility in Oakland Park."The competition is very high," said Kelly Allen, a spokeswomann for Workforce One. "However we are seeing more employers walk through the door with jobs."In many cases, the positions are for part-time work."This in an indication that things may be starting to turn around because employers will hire someone part-time just to see if they handle the extra staff before they make a more permanent hire," Allen said.The unemployment numbers released Wednesday tied a record low for the state since analysts first started tracking job losses nearly four decades ago. Unemployment numbers for February are expected to be released March 26.Also on Wednesday, Gov. Charlie Crist signed a bill which gives business owners a tax break on unemployment compensation.The current unemployment numbers are sure to become a campaign issue for the Governor's bid for a Senate seat.Crist told Local 10's Michael Putney that the bill he signed today is a step in the right direction. But Crist's opponent in the race for the Senate, Marco Rubio, said Crist is lock step with President Barack Obama and they are headed in the wrong direction.Rubio blamed Crist for embracing the president's stimulus plan."President Obama and Gov. Crist's stimulus has failed the people of Florida," Rubio said. "What was billed by them and other proponents as a job-creating panacea, has instead served to grow government and increase our debt."
VideoCopyright 2010 by Post-Newsweek Stations.
All rights reserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten
or redistributed
The views expressed are not those of JustNews.com, WPLG or its affiliated companies. This is a community moderated forum (Please note the 'Flag' button). By posting your comments you agree to accept our Terms of Use.
blog comments powered by Disqus
Two men could face charges after police said they cut the tail off the body of a whale that washed up on Delray Beach on Thursday.
The alligator hunting season that is well under way in Florida is a sport for hunters, but for the wildlife officials, it provides a way to control the growing gator population.
The parents of a 12-year-old Parkland girl who survived a 100-foot fall from a ride at a Wisconsin amusement park open up about her recovery.
A Coral Springs man whose homeowners' association told him to remove a "God Bless America" sign from his garage, has decided to raise a patriotic flag instead.
5 p.m. Update: Hurricane Earl has weakened to a Category 3 storm as the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast states batten down ahead of the storm.
Dispatchers in Beaverton, Ore., say a homeless man dialed 911 after getting stuck in a hotel hot tub.The caller, Mark Eskelsen, was arrested for trespassing. 
A South Florida girl who fell 100 feet from a ride at a Wisconsin amusement park is flown to Miami for further care.
A woman who claims she was stabbed by "40-Year-Old Virgin" actor Shelley Malil describes the incident in court.
(6/27/09) A man was shot and killed Saturday by an officer, after that man allegedly threatened another person with a machete.
Sometimes we all need a little extra motivation to get us through life. Thankfully, these hysterical posters are there to give you the shot in the arm you're looking for.
There's more to Canada than hockey, as these actors and actresses remind us of all our neighbors to the north have to offer.
The alligator hunting season that is well under way in Florida is a sport for hunters, but for the wildlife officials, it provides a way to control the growing gator population.
Find out how well you know your hometown by playing Guess What South Florida. Use the clues to see if you can name the South Florida landmark before time runs out.
Email Alerts
RSS News Feeds
Mobile
Live Streams
Slideshows
Video
Search
