Hendry Unemployment At 20.6%

Hendry Again #1 In Unemployed Workers

LABELLE, FL. -- Hendry County, at 20.6% has the highest unemployment rate in Florida in August 2010, followed by Flagler County (16.4 percent); Indian River County (16.2 percent); St. Lucie County (15.6 percent); and Hernando County (15.0 percent).

Many of the counties with the highest unemployment rates in the state have seasonal declines in agriculture and related industries. There are 51 Florida counties with double-digit unemployment rates in August, up from 49 the
previous month.

Despite record high unemployment, Florida homestead property owners found the assessed value of their homes, for which they pay taxes, raise by 2.7% this year, the change in the consumer price index from December 2008 to December 2009. Ironically the market value of most homes in Florida decreased by up to 40%.

In August 2010, Liberty County has the state�s lowest unemployment rate (7.5 percent); followed by Walton County (7.8 percent); Okaloosa County (8.0 percent); Lafayette County (8.4 percent); and Monroe County (8.5 percent). Most of the counties with the lowest unemployment rates are those with relatively high proportions of government employment. Others have seasonal increases in tourism.

Florida�s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for August 2010 is 11.7 percent. This represents 1,084,000 jobless out of a labor force of 9,229,000. The unemployment rate is 0.2 percentage point higher than the July rate of 11.5 percent.

Florida�s total nonagricultural employment in August 2010 is 7,227,900, representing a decline of 16,000 jobs (-0.2 percent) over the month. However, Florida�s annual job growth rate is up 0.4 percent, representing an increase of 29,800 jobs from August 2009. It is the second consecutive month the state is showing positive over-the-year job growth after losing jobs for three years. Nationally, the number of jobs is up 0.2 percent over the year.