Gov. Scott: Southwest Florida Added 4,000 New Jobs Over the Year

Statement

Governor Rick Scott announced today that the Southwest Florida area added 4,000 new private-sector jobs in the last year. Naples area businesses added 3,000 new jobs and the area's unemployment rate was 4.3 percent, dropping 0.6 percentage point in the past year. Fort Myers area businesses created 1,000 new jobs and the area's unemployment rate was 4.2 percent, also dropping 0.6 percentage point in the past year. Statewide, Florida businesses created 17,800 new jobs in June and the unemployment rate dropped to 4.1 percent, the lowest rate since June 2007. Since December 2010, Florida businesses have created 1,397,400 new private-sector jobs.

Governor Scott said, "Over the past six and half years, we have worked to foster job creation and make Florida the best place for businesses and families to succeed for generations to come. With the lowest unemployment rate in a decade and nearly 1.4 million jobs created across the state, it is clear that we are on track to making Florida the top destination for job growth."

The industries with the most job growth in Naples over the year were construction with 1,500 new jobs and education and health services with 1,000 new jobs. In June, the Naples area had 3,277 job openings, including 550 for high-skill, high-wage STEM occupations.

The industry with the largest job gains in Fort Myers over the year was other services with 800 new jobs. In June, the Fort Myers area had 7,126 job openings, including 1,426 high-skill, high-wage STEM occupations.

For 63 consecutive months, Florida's annual job growth rate of 3.1 percent is exceeding the nation's rate of 1.7 percent. In June, 22,977 Floridians were placed in jobs by CareerSource Southwest Florida and the state's other 23 local workforce boards.

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