Florida jobless rate dips slightly again

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Florida’s unemployment rate continues to nudge slowly downward.

The September unemployment rate was 5.2 percent, compared to 5.4 percent in August. According to figures released Friday by the Department of Economic Opportunity, the state added 2,100 jobs last month,

The jobless rate remains higher than the national rate of 5.1 percent with approximately 497,000 unemployed Floridians.

Gov. Rick Scott touted the new job numbers at a Lakeland based beverage distributor. He’s made job creation the main focus during his time in office.

The state’s unemployment rate has dropped by 0.6 percent in the last 12 months.

Monroe County had the state’s lowest unemployment rate at 3.6 percent. Hendry County had the highest jobless rate at 11.4 percent.