Gov. Scott: Fort Lauderdale Metro Area Gained 20,500 Jobs Over the Year

Press Release

Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that the Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-Deerfield Beach metro area gained the fourth highest number of jobs in December 2013 among all metro areas in Florida compared to a year ago with 20,500 new jobs. The Fort Lauderdale metro area's unemployment rate declined by 1.6 percentage points over the year, from 6.6 percent in December 2012 to 5.0 percent in December 2013. The metro area's unemployment rate in December 2013 was the third lowest in the state.

Governor Scott said, "It's working in Fort Lauderdale, and all across our state. Today's news that Fort Lauderdale added 20,500 jobs in December 2013 is even more reason why we should remain focused on creating an economy in Florida where all Floridians have the opportunity to succeed."

In December 2013, the industries with the largest job gains over the year in the Fort Lauderdale metro area were trade, transportation, and utilities with 6,800 new jobs and financial activities with 3,800 new jobs. Housing starts were up 6.3 percent over the year in the Fort Lauderdale metro area in October 2013.

This metro area was among the top five metro areas in Florida for online job demand with 24,378 openings and ranked fourth for STEM job openings with 5,358 job openings. STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and these jobs are considered high wage and high skill.

In December, Workforce One, along with the state's other 23 Regional Workforce Boards reported more than 40,800 Floridians were placed in jobs. An individual who receives employment and training assistance through a One-Stop Career Center and finds a job within 180 days is deemed a placement and may be reported by a regional workforce board. Of these individuals, 10,542 previously received Reemployment Assistance. In 2013, 479,064 Floridians were placed in jobs, with 135,384 former claimants finding employment.

Florida's unemployment rate decreased to 6.2 percent in December 2013, down from 6.4 percent in November 2013. The statewide unemployment rate has remained below the national average since April 2013. Florida has created 462,100 private sector jobs since December 2010.

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