BOCA RATON, Fla. — Governor Rick Scott today announced that Florida businesses have created 940,600 private-sector jobs since December 2010. Florida’s unemployment rate for August 2015 was 5.3 percent, down 0.6 percentage point from the August 2014 rate and down from 10.7 percent four and half years ago. In August 2015, 20,100 private-sector jobs were created across Florida. Florida’s annual private-sector job growth rate, now at 3.7 percent, has exceeded that of the nation since April 2012. Governor Scott made the announcement at ADT, a leading home security company headquartered in Boca Raton. ADT has more 3,000 employees in Florida and more than 20 offices across the state.

Governor Rick Scott said, “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. We want Florida to be the first in the nation for jobs and with more than 940,000 private-sector jobs added since December 2010, we are well on our way to reaching that goal.”

Luis Orbegoso, President of ADT Business, said, “With an excellent quality of life, wonderful schools, beautiful parks, and no state income tax, ADT is proud to be headquartered in Florida. As one of the oldest and most respected brands in the state, we are excited to welcome Governor Scott here today to share in our growth. ADT is constantly innovating, and we look forward to many more years of success in Florida and nationwide.”

The August 2015 unemployment rate is the lowest since February 2008, when it was 5.2 percent.  Florida’s unemployment rate has declined by 5.4 percentage points since December 2010. 

Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Executive Director Jesse Panuccio said, “Florida’s economic resurgence continued in August with a nation-leading growth rate for private-sector jobs and the lowest unemployment rate in seven years. This economic growth is what happens when taxes are kept low and regulation is kept in check. Florida continues to set an example for the nation.”

Other positive economic indicators in Florida include:

• Florida’s private-sector job growth month-to-month has been positive for 46 consecutive months. 
• Private-sector industries gaining the most jobs over the month in August were education and health services with 14,600 new jobs, leisure and hospitality with 7,800 new jobs, and professional and business services with 3,900 new jobs.
• Florida job postings showed 274,225 openings in August 2015.
• In August, Florida’s workforce system, which includes the 24 regional workforce boards, reported more than 37,900 Floridians, including 2,174 veterans, were placed in jobs. 

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

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