June figures show that unemployment is rising in southwest Florida

In June, unemployment rates rose across Southwest Florida.

All five counties in the region had higher unemployment rates last month, according to a report released Friday by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.

This is how the rates looked in June compared to May by county.

• Charlotte: 5.7% versus 4.7%
• Collier: 4.7%, compared to 3.7%
• Clearings: 5.6%, compared to 4%
• Hendry: 7.6%, versus 5.4%
• Lee: 5.3%, versus 4.6%

Prices usually go up in summer as this is the area’s off-season.

While they rose during the month, the rates are in stark contrast to a year ago, when unemployment was above 10% in four out of five counties when the coronavirus pandemic raged.

Unemployment in Glades was 8.5% a year ago, so it has come a long way since then.

“What a difference a year makes because the unemployment rate is about half what it was a year ago,” said Chris Westley, economist and dean of the Lutgert School of Business at Florida Gulf Coast University.

Last June, the state’s economy was only just beginning to come back to life, he said as COVID-19 eased state restrictions, which restricted business and gatherings.

In May:Help wanted: The low unemployment rates in Southwest Florida reflect the tightness of the job market

Knowing:Where did Southwest Florida Land on US News & World Report’s Best Places to Live? And who is No. 1?

Looking through the local June data, Westley found a very bright spot. That is the ongoing recovery in the tourism industry, particularly in Collier County, he said.

According to the monthly report, the number of jobs in the leisure and hospitality industry in Collier rose by 9.8% from 23,400 to 25,700 (+2,300) last year.

Neighboring Lee saw this type of job increase by 4%, with the total increasing from 34,700 to 36,100 (+1,400).

From a regional perspective, the region created a total of 4,300 jobs in the leisure and hospitality industry in June compared to the previous year.

“Many people choose to work despite the option of unemployment benefit,” Westley said. “That says a lot about our region and our workforce.”

More:National and local employers provide incentives to vaccinate more workers

Regarding the rise in unemployment rates across the region in June, he said he wasn’t too concerned as he is confident it reflects the traditional move into the slower season in southwest Florida that happens every year.

With the departure of seasonal residents, the demand for goods and services has slowed, resulting in fewer staffing needs, Westley said.

When asked why there still seemed to be so many job signs in the region, he said it was a bit confusing given the higher unemployment rates, which suggest more workers are looking for jobs.

Janeth Castrejon, communications manager at CareerSource Southwest Florida, said more and more people are coming to the work centers looking for work, which is a good sign for businesses in the area.

In part, the higher unemployment rates reflect a growing workforce as more residents return to the job market and resettlers look for work, while the population in southwest Florida continues to grow, accelerated by the pandemic, she said.

For example, in May the number of unemployed in Collier County was 6,963, and by June it had climbed to 8,724, an increase of more than 1,700 – or 3.7%.

The three metropolitan regions of the region – comprising the districts of Lee, Collier and Charlotte – created a total of 18,600 jobs last year.

In addition to leisure and hospitality, the sectors of education and health (+3,800), construction (+3,400) and trade, transport and supply (+3,200) were the sectors that gained the most jobs in June.

CareerSource Southwest Florida, which connects job seekers with employers across the region, is again hosting in-person recruitment events. The next will be in Charlotte County in late August.

Nationwide, the unemployment rate was 5% in June, compared with 4.9% in May. It remains below the national average of 5.9%.

In a press release, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity attributed the statewide surge in unemployment to a significant surge in the labor force, which grew by 83,000 during the month.

“Under the courageous leadership of Governor DeSantis, the Florida’s economy continues to thrive and grow with fourteen consecutive months of job growth,” said Dane Eagle, executive director of the Department of Economic Opportunity, in a statement. “Many job seekers are returning to work, and businesses across the state continue to provide Floridians with job opportunities, which strengthens our state’s economy.”

See similar https://www.naplesnews.com/story/money/business/local/2021/07/16/unemployment-rising-june-southwest-florida/7989119002/

The post June figures show that unemployment is rising in southwest Florida first appeared on Daily Florida Press.

from Daily Florida Press https://dailyfloridapress.com/june-figures-show-that-unemployment-is-rising-in-southwest-florida/