Florida's first round of unemployment numbers for the year showed a slight drop to 5.6 percent statewide, down from 5.8 percent in November.
Florida's 5.6 percent unemployment rate for December 2014 is the state's lowest rate since April 2008, when it was 5.4 percent.
There were 543,000 jobless Floridians out of a labor force of 9,644,000. The U.S. unemployment rate was also 5.6 percent in December. Florida's unemployment rate has been less or equal to the national rate for 17 of the last 21 months.
Compared to December 2013, the number of jobs in the state was up by 230,000, a 3 percent increase. Nationally, the number of jobs was up 2.1 percent over the year. Florida's annual job growth rate has exceeded the nation's rate since April 2012.
Gov. Rick Scott announced Friday that Florida businesses added 11,500 private sector jobs in December 2014. More than 700,000 private sector jobs have been added in four years.
The Orlando metropolitan statistical area gained 47,500 new jobs over the year, which is among the highest number of jobs in all metropolitan areas in Florida compared to a year ago. Since December 2010, Florida's unemployment rate has dropped 5.5 percent.
December was the 53rd consecutive month with positive annual job growth after the state lost jobs for more than three years. The industry gaining the most jobs was professional and business services (added 49,100 jobs).
Local unemployment by county
December 2014, Central Florida counties only.
(Preliminary, not seasonally adjusted)
| RANK* | COUNTY | DECEMBER 2014 |
NOVEMBER 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 |
Flagler | 7.6% | 8.1% |
| 12 | Marion | 6.4% | 6.8% |
| 19 |
Polk |
6.1% |
6.6% |
| 26 | Brevard | 5.7% | 6.1% |
| 28 | Osceola | 5.5% | 6.0% |
| 32 | Lake | 5.4% | 5.8% |
| 34 | Volusia | 5.3% | 5.6% |
| 47 | Orange | 4.9% | 5.2% |
| 54 |
Sumter | 4.7% | 5.0% |
| 59 | Seminole | 4.5% | 4.8% |
* Out of 67 Florida counties.