Florida unemployment

Florida’s labor force has grown by more than half a million people since October.

Judge Layne Smith said Gov. Ron DeSantis had the legal right to halt $300-a-week payments to Floridians from what is known as the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, or FPUC, program.

The highest rate was found in Sebring area at 6.8 percent. The Villages and Homosassa Springs areas were both at 6.5 percent.The Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metropolitan area was at 4.7 percent

An estimated 530,000 Floridians were out of work in July from a workforce of 10.48 million.

Florida’s June unemployment rate is up slightly from the month before. Statistics released by the state Friday show June's unemployment rate was rate 5%, up 0.1 percentage point from May.

The state’s unemployment rate now stands at 4.9% as some industries continue to report that people are slow to return to work.

The Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association launched the free servicee to help laid off and furloughed people find work. About 600 businesses have already posted positions.

State and business officials have argued that the $300 a week in federal aid is keeping people from returning to jobs.

The return of workers to the leisure and hospitality sectors continues to be at a slower pace than in some other industries.

Bill sponsor Sen. Jason Brodeur says he sought the $100 boost after seeing what other states are doing.

Some people who have lost their jobs during the pandemic are training for a new career at St. Petersburg College. Workers in the hard-hit restaurant and hotel industry are among those signing up.

Florida's biggest industry — tourism — is still hurting. But over the past year, the state has gained jobs in warehousing, delivery services, and home construction.