Governor Rick Scott announced that Florida's unemployment rate dropped to 4.1 percent in June--which is the lowest rate since June 2007. 

  • Florida's unemployment rate drops to lowest rate in 10 years
  • Nearly 18,000 private-sector jobs created in June
  • Total number since Dec. 2010 now 1,397,400

Florida businesses created nearly 18,000 private-sector jobs in June, bringing the total number of new jobs added since December 2010 to 1,397,400. Florida's annual private-sector job growth rate, which is 3.1 percent, has exceeded the nation's rate, which is 1.7 percent, for 63 consecutive months. 

Governor Scott said, “I am proud to announce that Florida’s unemployment rate has dropped to its lowest rate in 10 years and that nearly 18,000 new jobs were created for families across the state in June. Over the past six and a half years, we have tirelessly worked to cut more than $7 billion in taxes and reduce more than 5,000 burdensome regulations, which is helping job creators like Allegiant Air bring new opportunities to our state. Our newly established $85 million Florida Job Growth Grant Fund will keep Florida on track to becoming the national leader for job growth. I encourage businesses interested in growing in Florida to learn more about the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund today.” 

Governor Scott also plans to meet with Allegiant Air, who chose Florida as the best location for their new East Coast Training Center last year. Their base at Orlando Sanford International Airport has become the company's largest in the United States. 

Allegiant Air is currently responsible for more than 15,000 direct jobs across the State of Florida. 

As of June, Florida’s unemployment rate dropped 6.6 percentage points since December 2010, while the national rate declined by only 4.9 percentage points in the same time period. In the last year, 343,000 people entered Florida’s labor force, a growth of 3.5 percent, while the national labor force growth rate is only 0.8 percent.

Other positive economic indicators include:

  • Private-sector industries gaining the most jobs over-the-year were:
    • Professional and business services with 47,800 new jobs;
    • Education and health services with 40,300 new jobs;
    • Trade, transportation and utilities with 35,600 new jobs
    • Leisure and hospitality with 33,500 new jobs; and
    • Construction with 32,400 new jobs.
  • Florida job postings showed 248,335 openings in June 2017.
  • In June Florida’s 24 regional workforce boards reported 22,977 Floridians, including 1,276 veterans, were placed in jobs.