ORLANDO, Fla. — Following months of declining numbers, Florida's unemployment situation is headed in the wrong direction.
On Friday, the state revealed that the unemployment rate had increased by almost a full point, expanding from 10.4% in June to 11.3% in July.
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Regionally, the central Florida area maintained the highest rate with the Orlando area posting a 15.3% unemployment rate, followed by Miami at 14.2%, and Fort Lauderdale at 13.1%.
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The central Florida number, while highest in the state, is actually down more than a point from June when it was 16.5%.
Friday’s numbers signal that while job growth continues across the state, the pace has slowed with many workers re-entering the workforce and not finding jobs.
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“We saw in April the peak of business closures across the state, since then we have continued to see businesses reopening,” says Adrienne Johnston the Bureau Chief for Workforce Statistics and Economic Research for the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.