NAPLES, Fla. — Governor Rick Scott today announced that Florida businesses have created 807,100 private-sector jobs since December 2010. In February 2015, 14,900 private-sector jobs were created across Florida. Florida’s annual private-sector job growth rate, now at 3.9 percent, has exceeded that of the nation since April 2012. Florida’s unemployment rate for February 2015 was 5.6 percent, down from the January 2015 rate of 5.7 percent.

Governor Rick Scott said, “Today’s announcement of more than 807,000 new private-sector jobs since December 2010 is great news for Florida families. More than 14,000 jobs were created during the month of February alone, and more opportunities are becoming available for families each month. We know that a great job helps dreams come true in our state, and we will keep working to make Florida the best place in the world for families to succeed.”

Florida’s unemployment rate decreased by 0.9 percentage point over the year from the February 2014 rate of 6.5 percent, down now to 5.6 percent. Florida’s labor force increased over the month and over the year in February. In February, Florida’s annual labor force growth of 1.9 percent was more than double that of the nation’s, with 0.8 percentage point annual growth. On an annual basis, Florida’s labor force has increased for 60 consecutive months.

Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Executive Director Jesse Panuccio said, “February was another strong month for Florida’s continually improving economy, with nearly 15,000 new private-sector jobs, growth in the labor force, steadily falling unemployment, and record job demand. These positive trends are evidence that Governor Scott’s policies have spurred economic growth in the Sunshine State.”

More Floridians Getting Back to Work

• Florida’s unemployment rate has declined or held steady for 53 consecutive months.
• Florida’s private-sector job growth month-to-month has been positive for 40 consecutive months. 
• Florida has created 807,100 new private sector jobs since December 2010.
• Florida job postings compiled by the Help Wanted OnLine data series from The Conference Board showed 292,249 openings in February 2015.

Home Sales Robust

• Home sales remain robust as the backlog of existing homes on the market is down by 32.5 percent from December 2011 (Florida Realtors).
• Florida median home prices were up 9.1 percent over the year in February 2015.
• Florida building permits were up 1.6 percent over the year in January 2015.

Workforce Boards Assisting in Employment

• In February, Florida’s 24 regional workforce boards reported more than 35,900 Floridians were placed in jobs. An individual who receives employment and training assistance through a CareerSource Center and finds a job within 180 days is deemed a placement and may be reported by a regional workforce board. Of these individuals, 6,944 previously received Reemployment Assistance. 
• In 2014, 470,534 individuals were placed into jobs through the regional workforce board, including more than 23,986 veterans.

To view the February 2015 employment data visit www.floridajobs.org/labor-market-information/labor-market-information-press-releases/monthly-press-releases.

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