Florida’s shrinking workforce is helping Scott reduce jobless rate, report says
by John Kennedy | June 7th, 2012Economists taking a fresh look at the state’s unemployment rate report findings that support workers’ organizations which say the state’s job picture may be improving because thousands of jobless Floridians are leaving the workforce.
In a detailed complaint filed with the U.S. Labor Department, Florida Legal Services and the National Employment Law Project charge that sweeping changes to how Florida workers must file claims have denied unemployment checks to thousands of eligible Floridians.
Critics say frustration with the system also may be aiding Gov. Rick Scott’s goal of reducing unemployment. Some workers may abandon their job search or just leave the state, falling out of Florida’s labor market, they said.
The Legislature’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research this week released its latest economic overview for the state, which says that as much as 75 percent of the state’s 1.2 percent drop in unemployment since last December is attributed to Floridians leaving the workforce.
If the same number of Floridians were in the labor force, April’s 8.7 percent unemployment rate — a three-year low– 9.6 percent of workers in the state would have been unemployed, EDR concluded. Those disappearing from the workforce could have abandoned their job search, returned to school, left the state or retired.
But critics say that Scott is overstating the health of Florida’s economy when he claims the unemployment drop is proof the state is on what he called the “path to recovery.”
Even at 8.7 percent unemployment, Florida’s rate remains above the nationwide 8.1 percent level. Only seven states have higher unemployment rates than Florida, which was tied in April with Mississippi and Illinois, EDR found.
Tags: Florida Legal Services, Florida unemployment, National Employment Law Project, Office of Economic and Demographic Research
June 7th, 2012 at 5:17 pm
“75 percent of the state’s 1.2 percent drop in unemployment since last December is attributed to Floridians leaving the workforce.”
HIGH SPEED RAIL.
Oh but we don’t need that!
Let’s face it, all Rick Scott has done as Governor is take a big dump on the people of Florida.
And Republicans look at each other with crap on their faces, saying “Isn’t this great?!”
NEW LEADERSHIP PLEASE.
DEMOCRATS, STEP UP.
REGISTER TO VOTE *NOW*!
THEN VOTE VOTE VOTE IN NOVEMBER!
June 7th, 2012 at 7:07 pm
Will he get to 700,000 jobs in his first 4 years? Enquiring minds want to know.
June 7th, 2012 at 9:56 pm
This is exactly why Scott has been stupid to crow so much about the official unemployment rate going down so much.
It’s the same lame argument the Obamabots are making, and it’s just as lame when they crow about it.
June 8th, 2012 at 2:15 pm
John:
This article missed some low hanging fruit.
First off, you forgot to mention the 140,000 jobs created since Governor Scott took office. Second, you forgot to mention that the “missing” unemployed is a Federal phenomenon, cooked up by Washington to mask the true unemployment rate. If all the people who were counted when President Obama was inaugerated were still counted the national unemployment rate would be over 11%. Third you forgot to mention that Florida has the second largest decline in the unemployment rate in the last two years. And, finally, yopu forgot to mention that Florida is now the second most business friendly state, behind Texas.
Other than that, good job.
June 8th, 2012 at 6:39 pm
A lot of them went to work in North Dakota’s booming oil shale business. Unemployment in N. Dakota is 4.3%. So in a way it’s helped the overall national unemployment rate. Texas unemployment rate is 3%. Detroit will be broke in one week after 50 years of Democrat rule. Great job Dems.!