Local Job Market Worsening

TALLAHASSEE - The local labor force has grown by nearly 3,000 since 2006.

That has not translated to a stronger job market. In fact, the opposite is true.

In spite of the spike in the number of work-eligible residents, only 763 more people have jobs today compared to two years ago, according to state data.

The unemployment rate has soared from 4.1 to 7.0 percent, leaving Hernando County with the second highest unemployment rate in the state behind Flagler County.

"It's really a multiplying effect," said David Hamilton, of Career Central. "It spreads out. If one good-paying job is lost in one area, there are two or three more jobs under it that are affected."

Hamilton further explained it this way:

A home builder is unemployed because of a slumping housing market. Brick masons, framers and roofers who rely on that industry also are out of work. Before long, there is a decline in jobs among manufacturers, lumber companies, drivers and home supply retailers.

If one sector is suffering, it is guaranteed to spread to other areas, Hamilton said.

The labor force in Hernando County as of last month was at 63,228. People 16 and older who are working or looking for work make up the labor force, Hamilton said. Full-time students, stay-at-home parents, people on disability and retirees are not included.

Out of that labor force, 58,805 people had jobs. That means 4,423, or 7 percent, were unemployed.

Only Flagler County, located north of Daytona Beach, had a higher unemployment rate - 7.6, according to figures released by the state.

"It's certainly disappointing to know unemployment has continued to rise," said Deputy County Administrator Larry Jennings. "That definitely makes us want to diversify our economy more, which is something (we've) been talking about for a while."

Florida's unemployment rate was at 4.9 percent, a 0.3 percentage point increase from the previous month.

Its March 2008 unemployment rate is the highest since February 2004.

Florida remains below the national mark of 5.1 percent.

The Tampa metropolitan area - the second largest behind Miami-Fort Lauderdale - rose from 4.8 to 5.1 percent unemployment from February to March. More than 1.3 million people make up the region's labor force.

Hillsborough, Pinellas, Hernando and Pasco counties make up the Tampa metropolitan area.

Nineteen counties have a higher unemployment rate than the national average and 34 are higher than the state average, according to the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation.