Central Florida Jobless Rate Tops Nine Percent
Friday, August 17, 2012
By: Tom Parkinson

August 17, 2012 | WMFE - The unemployment rate in the Metro Orlando region climbed past the nine percent mark in July as an expanding labor pool outpaced job growth.

The Orlando area’s jobless rate bumped up from 8.8% in June to 9.1% in July. The statewide rate also rose by a half percent to 8.8% in July as Florida lost more 20,000 jobs. 

Gov. Rick Scott downplayed the news. He says a year over year comparison yields a more accurate picture of the state’s progress and notes that Florida’s jobless rate stood at 10.6 % last July.He also said Florida has added more than 130,000 private-sector jobs since he took office and credits his business friendly policies.

The Orlando Metro Region has added more than 10,000 jobs over the year since last July but more workers have also moved into the area keeping the unemployment rate in the high single digits.