TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Governor Rick Scott announced today that Florida’s private-sector job growth rate of 3.6 percent in November was the highest among the ten most populous states, including Texas, California, and New York. November marks the ninth consecutive month that Florida’s growth rate has been first among large states. Florida’s private-sector job growth rate is also significantly higher than the nation’s, which is at 2.1 percent.

Governor Scott said, “For the ninth consecutive month, Florida’s job growth rate leads the nation’s largest states, including our biggest competitor, Texas. Florida businesses have create more than ONE MILLION jobs in only five years, and just last week we learned Florida’s population surpassed 20 million residents. As more and more people continue to move to our state, we need to make sure that Florida is first for job creation. That’s why we will work to diversify our economy by cutting $1 billion in taxes and creating the Florida Enterprise Fund this Legislative session.”

November is the eighth consecutive month Florida has created more private-sector jobs over the year than Texas, and the 23^rd month the state has had a higher private-sector job growth rate than California, despite Texas and California’s significantly higher population. In November, Florida ranked second among the largest states in total private-sector jobs added, with more than 244,000 jobs created over the year.

Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Executive Director Jesse Panuccio said, “The Scott administration has worked tirelessly to reshape Florida’s economic policy, enabling the private-sector to flourish. Florida consistently rises above our competitors like Texas because we are committed to making Florida first for job creation.”

Since December 2010, Florida businesses have created 1,011,800 private-sector jobs. In November, the unemployment rate dropped to 5.0 percent, Florida’s lowest rate in seven years.

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