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Highlands Today

Highlands' July Unemployment Rate Jumps To 7.8 Percent

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Special to Highlands Today

Published: August 17, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - Highlands County's unemployment rate jumped to 7.8 percent in July, according to the Agency For Workforce Innovation.

The number marks an increase of more than one point from June and more than two points from July of last year. The percentage of unemployed in Highlands in June was 6.4 percent. It was 5.6 percent in July 2007.

Florida's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for July 2008 is 6.1 percent, which is the highest since January 1995.

The unemployment rate is up 0.6 percentage point from the June rate of 5.5 percent and is up 2.0 percentage points from the July 2007 rate.

The state's July rate is the highest since January 1995, which was 6.5 percent. The state's current unemployment rate is 0.4 percentage point higher than the national unemployment rate of 5.7 percent.

Florida's annual nonagricultural employment growth rate for July 2008 is -1.2 percent. The rate represents a loss of 96,800 jobs from July 2007, to reach a total employment level of 7,924,000. This is slower than the national job growth rate for July which is nearly unchanged (but slightly negative) from the previous year.

The July 2008 job growth rate continues the trend of negative over-the-year growth that began in September 2007, primarily due to declines in construction.

The Agency for Workforce Innovation works closely with its partners, including Workforce Florida Inc. and the state's 24 Regional Workforce Boards, to provide critical workforce programs throughout the state.

For Florida's job seekers, programs and services offered include:

One-Stop Career Centers - Florida's 88 One-Stop Career Centers, locally operated by Regional Workforce Boards, provide local access to job placement services, local workforce information and job training opportunities. Follow this link for a Map of Florida One-Stop Career Centers. ( http://www.floridajobs.org/onestop/onestopdir/inde...)

Employ Florida Marketplace - The Employ Florida Marketplace Online Job Bank provides 24/7 access to a wide variety of local, state and national job openings. Follow this link to access the Employ Florida Marketplace. ( http://www.employflorida.com/)

Mobile One-Stop Career Centers - Florida's Mobile One-Stop Career Centers allow citizens in rural areas, at job fairs and during emergency situations to access critical workforce information and services.

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