Florida Improves Unemployment Numbers, Other States Struggle
WASHINGTON (CBSMiami) — South Floridians still stuck in the unemployment line may be in luck. New national data shows that people have higher likelihood of being hired within the Sunshine State.
According to the U.S. Labor Department, Florida has had one of the largest recent job gains in the United States, along with California and Georgia.
Florida numbers show the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate at 7.1 percent in July, the state's rate was 8.7 percent last year.
But while the sun is shining on Florida's job market, there's still a dark cloud of joblessness hanging over more than half of the United States.
In July, unemployment rates rose in more than half of the U.S. states, while fewer states added jobs.
According to employment experts, the job market may have lost some momentum as hiring rates only increased in 32 states in July as opposed to June. Seventeen states reported job losses, with New Jersey and Nevada losing the most.
Nationwide, hiring has been steady this year but slowed in July. Employers added 162,000 jobs, the fewest since March. The unemployment rate fell two-tenths of a point to 7.4 percent last month, a 4½ -year low.
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