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Florida's Unemployment Rate Continues To Drop

Florida’s October Unemployment numbers are showing a modest drop in the state’s unemployment rate. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity said the seasonally adjusted number is the lowest since December of 2008.

Florida’s unemployment rate has dropped two tenths of a point, from 8.7 to 8.5 percent. Although the overall rate has dropped, the growth of the private sector has slowed. Florida’s Chief Economist Rebecca Rust said she expects private sector jobs to continue growing as retailers add temporary positions for the holidays. She adds job-seekers shouldn’t discount the possibility of temporary jobs.

“We really encourage job-seekers that they do apply for jobs even though they’re seasonal. Because always a portion of those jobs do remain permanent,” Rust said.

Professional and Business Services added the most jobs with a gain of more than 25-thousand positions. The state has added more than 170-thousand private sector jobs since 2010.