Florida's unemployment at 8-year low

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

Florida's unemployment rate dipped to 4.8 percent in April, down from 4.9 percent in March and the lowest mark for the state in more than eight years. The preliminary April jobless rate represented an estimated 472,000 Floridians being out of work --- 6,000 fewer than revised March numbers --- from a workforce of 9.8 million, the state Department of Economic Development announced Friday. Gov. Rick Scott issued a prepared statement that pointed to an estimated 28,900 private-sector jobs created in the month. "Florida job creators are adding new opportunities each day, and it is clear that our work to cut taxes and support economic growth is making a difference for families in our state," Scott said. Construction grew by 4,400 jobs from March to April, while the manufacturing industry increased by 2,600 in the same time. The report has Florida for the fourth consecutive month below or even with the national unemployment rate. The national rate has stood at 5 percent the past two months after two months at 4.9 percent. In a series of news releases Friday, Scott also pointed to the Orlando area as continuing to lead the state in job creation over the past year, adding 49,600 private-sector jobs in that time. Also over the past year, the state estimates that 44,000 new jobs have been added in Tampa, 31,000 in Fort Lauderdale, and 22,000 in both Jacksonville and Miami. Pensacola, over the past year, has added 1,300 new jobs.