Gov. Rick Scott announced Friday that the Tampa area had added nearly 43,000 job over the year in March.

  • Unemployment rate in Tampa down to 4.4 percent
  • Announced local manufacturer creating 70 new jobs
  • State's private sector job growth rate exceeds national rate

The governor also touted a 0.8 percentage point drop in the area's unemployment rate to 4.4 percent in March.

“Not only has the Tampa area added nearly 43,000 jobs over the year, but today we also announced that local manufacturer Beneficial Blends will be expanding and creating 70 new jobs for Tampa families," said Scott. "Our work to cut taxes and support economic growth is helping job creators succeed across the state, and we will keep working to make Florida first for jobs.”

Gov. Scott made his announcement at Beneficial Blends, LLC, headquartered in Tampa. The company manufactures and distributes Kelapo coconut oil products.

According to Gov. Scott, the new jobs at Beneficial Blends will include positions in sales, marketing, accounting, and quality control positions, as well as production and warehouse roles.

Scott's job report went on to say that

  • Professional and business service industries experienced the greatest job growth over the year in the Tampa Bay area. Those sectors saw 12,400 new jobs over the year in March.
  • Tampa remains first among Florida's metro areas in job demand in March, with 47,790 openings.
  • Tampa also leads the state in demand for high-skill science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) occupations, with 14,950 openings in March.

Statewide, Florida businesses created 225,300 private-sector jobs over the year in March, exceeding the nation’s private-sector job growth rate for the fourth consecutive year.

To view the March 2016 employment data, visit www.floridajobs.org/labor-market-information/labor-market-information-press-releases/monthly-press-releases.