Anemic Job Market

The pace of employment in the US is far below what we need to begin a real growth cycle. Today in the Tallahassee area, these are the jobs that just posted:

Job Title	Occupation Code (O*Net)	Occupation Description (O*Net)
WetChem Technician/Analyst - Tallahassee	19203100	Chemists
Sampler / Courier - Tallahassee	17302500	Environmental Engineering Technicians
Director - Consolidated Dispatch Intergovernmental Agency, Tallahassee, FL	43503100	Police, Fire, and Ambulance Dispatchers
2 Year Old Lead Teacher	39901100	Childcare Workers
Controls Technician/Engineer	17206100	Computer Hardware Engineers
Truck Driver - Transmission - PCK592-20895	53303200	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
Inside Sales	41401100	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products
Military Class 3 QA Inspector	19409901	Quality Control Analysts
Production Supervisor/Manager (Electronics)	11919900	Managers, All Other

While the local economy is picking up steadily, this is not true throughout Florida. Our Governor just came out with his statement. The focus here in Florida is on job placements, and our system agrees. Our goal is to help each person in our One-Stop reach employment status and at a living wage. Here is what the Governor posted today:

TALLAHASSEE – Governor Rick Scott announced that in June 2013, Florida created more jobs and the statewide unemployment rate remained below the national average. At 7.1 percent, the state’s May and June unemployment rates were the lowest since September 2008. Florida’s unemployment rate remains below the national average of 7.6 percent for the fourth consecutive month. During the month of June, 2,300 private sector jobs were added, for a total of more than 333,000 private sector jobs since December 2010.

Governor Scott said, “Florida’s June unemployment rate of 7.1 percent will continue to contribute to the long-term trend of decreasing unemployment throughout the state. The creation of more than 2,000 private sector jobs last month is further evidence of the state’s continuing economic recovery. As Florida families are getting back to work, it is clear that IT’S WORKING.”

Since December 2010, Florida’s statewide unemployment rate has dropped four percentage points, from a rate of 11.1 percent to June’s rate of 7.1 percent. In the same time frame, the national unemployment rate has dropped 1.7 percentage points, demonstrating Florida’s improving economic climate continues to outpace the national recovery. Florida’s unemployment rate has now declined year-over-year for 32 consecutive months.

More Jobs Being Created

• Florida experienced positive annual job growth for 35 consecutive months.
• Florida’s job growth month-to-month has been positive for 22 of the last 24 months.
• 2,300 private sector jobs were created in June 2013.
• More than 333,000 new private sector jobs have been created in Florida since December 2010.
• Florida is expected to create more than 900,000 new jobs by 2018, according to the Florida Economic Estimating Conference.
• Florida job postings compiled by the Help Wanted OnLine data series from The Conference Board increased in June by 1,763 openings (+1.6 percent) over the year to reach a total of 256,400 (seasonally adjusted). Job postings in Florida also increased over the month compared to May 2013 by 7,983 openings (+3.2 percent).

Home Sales Robust

• Home sales remain robust as the backlog of existing homes on the market is down by 32 percent from May 2012.  
• Florida housing starts were up over the year in May 2013 (the most recent month available) by 45.1 percent and median home prices were up 15.9 percent in May 2013 over the year.

Economic Growth Trends Up Across State

• A recent U.S. Census Survey reported that Florida experienced an influx of people moving into the state. Florida also led the nation in migrations from Puerto Rico.
• Florida is running a trade surplus of over $18 billion – with $90.4 billion in exports and $71.8 billion in imports in 2012, up from $73.1 billion in exports in 2010 and $53.2 billion in imports in 2010.

Workforce Boards Assisting in Employment

• In June, Florida’s 24 Regional Workforce Boards reported more than 35,400 Floridians were placed in jobs. This represents an increase of more than 6,800 placements over the year from June 2012. 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, 9,859 previously received Reemployment Assistance. 
• In 2012, more than 426,000 Floridians were placed in jobs, with 111,173 former claimants finding employment.

To view the June 2013 monthly employment data visit:

www.floridajobs.org/labor-market-information/labor-market-information-press-releases/monthly-press-releases


Washington's gridlock is having a serious drag on the nations Psyche and is not helpful as we try and grow ourselves out of the Great Recession. In addition, one would think that the Congress would be anxious to help re-skill the people who have lost their jobs since 2007 and get them into re-employment opportunities as soon as possible to improve the economy. There does not seem to be that type of bi-partisan support for workforce development. The system just endures one cut after another and some of our services are disappearing because we no  longer have the funds to support what needs to make this system effective and efficient.