Fla. Jobless Rate Climbs to 11.2 Percent in Oct.

Florida's unemployment rate continued its steady upward climb in October to 11.2 percent — a mark last seen in the 1970s and a tenth of a percentage point higher than September's adjusted rate, state officials said Friday.

The number of unemployed Floridians topped 1 million in September for the first time. It remained slightly over that mark in October at just over 1 million out of a labor force of nearly 9.2 million.

Florida's October rate was the seventh highest — tied with Kentucky — among the 50 states and District of Columbia and exceeded the national figure by a full percentage point. It was Florida's highest since June 1975, when it also was 11.2 percent. The last time it was higher was 11.9 percent in May 1975. It's up 4.3 percentage points from October 2008.

"This rate indicates that Florida's families and businesses are still facing challenges, while fewer job losses reveal slight improvement in the economic climate," said Agency for Workforce Innovation Director Cynthia R. Lorenzo.

While the state is continuing to shed jobs, the loss rate has dropped. Florida had 339,600 fewer nonagricultural jobs in October than the same month last year. That's a decline of 4.4 percent compared to 5.4 percent for September.

Three sectors of Florida's economy have been hardest hit: Trade, transportation and utilities; professional and business services; and construction account for more than two-thirds of the state's job losses. Health care has been the only growth sector for most of the year.

September's rate initially had been announced as 11 percent but later was adjusted to 11.1 percent.

If not for the state's declining labor force — down by 25,000 in October and 142,000 over the year — the unemployment rate would have been even higher, said Agency for Workforce Innovation economist Rebecca Rust. She said those who have given up looking for work include people who have decided to retire early, go back to school or leave Florida.