WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that Florida’s private-sector job growth rate of 3.5 percent in December was the highest among the ten most populous states, including Texas, California, and New York for the tenth consecutive month. Florida’s private-sector job growth rate is also significantly higher than the nation’s, which is at 2.1 percent, and ranks third when compared to all 50 states. Florida has also seen the fifth-highest drop in unemployment across the nation since December 2010.

Governor Scott said, “Florida’s job growth is growing faster than the largest states in the nation, including Texas. By cutting taxes and making it easier for businesses to succeed, we’ve created an environment where Florida’s private sector was able to create more than one million jobs in just five years. In order to keep growing, we must continue our momentum by cutting $1 billion in taxes and out competing other states with the creation of the new $250 million Florida Enterprise Fund.”

This is the ninth consecutive month that Florida has created more private-sector jobs over the year than Texas, which created a total of 141,300 new jobs. In December, Florida ranked second in the nation in total private-sector jobs added, with more than 238,900 jobs created over the year.

Cissy Proctor, Executive Director, Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, said, “Month after month, Florida’s economic indicators continue to beat those of our peers. Our state closed 2015 strong and we look forward to adding more successful chapters to Florida’s economic story in 2016.”

Since December 2010, Florida businesses have created 1,025,400 private-sector jobs. In November, the unemployment rate dropped to 5.0 percent, Florida’s lowest rate in seven years.

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