Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.4% in November 2013, down three-tenths of a point over the month, and down 1.6 percentage points from a year ago.
The rate was the lowest since another 6.4% mark in July, 2008, according to the state Department of Economic Opportunity. It translates to 599,000 Floridians out of work, and is lower than the nationwide jobless figure of seven percent.
Compared to November, 2012, the number of jobs in the state was up by 183,000 – a 2.5% increase.
DEO says last month was the 40th consecutive month with positive annual job growth, after the state lost jobs for over three years.
The most gains were seen in trade, transportation, and utilities. Total government was the only major industry losing jobs over the year, with both federal and state government contributing to the loss.
Unemployment rates in the western Panhandle were virtually unchanged from October to November. Escambia County remained at 6.1%; Santa Rosa went from five and a half to 5.4%, and Okaloosa County went up slightly, from 4.4 to 4.5%.
Among metro areas, Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent had a 5.9% jobless rate, while Crestview-Ft. Walton Beach-Destin was at 4.5%. Both were virtually unchanged from October.