The Orange County rate fell faster in September than Seminole County’s rate, narrowing the gap between the two counties.
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Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are: Shelby County at 4.1%, Lee County at 4.8%, and Elmore and Cullman Counties at 5.0%.
Wage and salary employment in September measured 1,958,000, the highest level in 2015 and one not seen in the state since September 2008. Adjusting for this seasonal factor, the county added 22,000 jobs.
In the past year statewide, the biggest job declines came in goods-producing industries lost 3,700 jobs over the year in construction and mining and logging.
The governor’s office said Friday the seasonally adjusted jobless rate for September was six percent, down from the August rate of 6.2 percent.
The national unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.1 percent.
The picture was just as robust for the payroll jobs market over the last 12 months as the county gained 85,000 jobs for a growth rate of 2 percent. The region has added 28,500 jobs over the year, second only to Orlando among metro areas, but numerous jobs are in traditionally lower-paying industries. The August adjustment was the third consecutive month that the preliminary monthly jobless rate had to be revised upward; and the fourth time this year that the unemployment rate climbed after the review of additional jobs data. Government posted the largest increase over the month, adding 6,200 jobs. So did construction, which fell 800 jobs. Leisure and hospitality also saw gains, adding 6,600 jobs, along with educational and health services, which grew by 4,900 jobs.
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“And that’s why we compare year-over-year, rather than month-to-month”, said Panuccio.
