Gov. Rick Scott: Florida Businesses Created Nearly 29,000 Jobs in April 2016

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Governor Rick Scott announced today that Florida businesses created 28,900 private-sector jobs across the state during April 2016, bringing the total number of jobs created in 2016 to 70,000. Florida’s unemployment rate also dropped to 4.8 percent in April, the state’s lowest rate in more than eight years. Since December 2010, 1,094,800 private-sector jobs have been created in Florida.

Governor Rick Scott said, “I am proud to announce today that Florida businesses created nearly 29,000 new jobs last month. Florida’s unemployment rate is also at a more than eight-year low and our private sector job growth rate has exceeded the nation’s for more than four years. Florida job creators are adding new opportunities each day, and it is clear that our work to cut taxes and support economic growth is making a difference for families in our state. We also want these job creators to know that our graduates are ready to build meaningful careers, and our Degrees to Jobs Summit next week will connect Florida education and business leaders to discuss how we can better prepare our students to get great jobs when they graduate.”

Florida’s annual private-sector job growth rate of 3.5 percent has exceeded that of the nation’s for 49 consecutive months. Over the year in April, Florida businesses created 244,300 new private-sector jobs. The unemployment rate is down 0.7 percentage point from the April 2015 rate, and down by 0.1 percentage point from the March 2016 rate. Florida’s unemployment rate has declined by 5.9 percentage points since December 2010.

Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Executive Director Cissy Proctor said, “Florida’s unemployment rate is at its lowest point in more than eight years and thousands of new jobs were created last month, meaning job seekers are able to find a good job that provides for their families. Our economy continues to flourish thanks to our strategic investments in Florida’s business-friendly climate.”

Other positive economic indicators include:

  • Private-sector industries gaining the most jobs over the month in April were education and health services with 6,000 new jobs, and professional and business services and construction tied with 4,400 new jobs each.
  • Florida job postings showed 269,535 openings in April 2016.
  • In April, Florida’s 24 regional workforce boards reported more than 35,386 Floridians, including 1,664 veterans, were placed in jobs.

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