California unemployment down to 6.1 percent

Every county in Southwest Florida saw its unemployment rate fall in August over the month – and over the year.

Tampa Bay’s jobless rate dropped from 5.4 percent to 5.2 percent.

Brevard County’s unemployment picture improved slightly in August, with a steady labor force and more people working from the previous month. Hernando continued to have the highest unemployment rate in the region at 6.8 percent, but continued to drop.

“What we are finding is that we are getting more and more requests for on the job training from employers”, Barber said.

“The biggest thing right now is technology positions”, Mahony said.

Jobless rates continue to fall across Southwest Florida, as employers scramble to fill both year-round and seasonal jobs.

“We are excited to announce that Florida businesses added more than 20,000 new private-sector jobs last month and our unemployment rate has been cut in half over the last four and a half years”, Scott said.

The bay area is tops in the state in online job demand with 51,652 openings posted in August.

Unemployment in Collier County sat at 5.9 percent in August, 1.1 percent below the same time a year ago. That was the lowest since March 2008 and a point lower than the 6.1 percent rate a year ago. That was followed by the traditionally lower-paying leisure and hospitality industry (up 55,600 jobs).

Employment in construction, wholesale and retail trade, transportation and warehousing, and government remained steady on a national level.