Tampa Bay had the worst unemployment rate among major metropolitan areas in the state in January, pushing past 13 percent.
While other economic factors may be improving, Floridians - and local residents in particular - are still losing jobs.
Unemployment in the Tampa Bay area - which includes Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando counties - rose from 12.4 percent in December to 13.1 percent in January. A year ago, the jobless rate was 9.5 percent.
Florida's rate rose to its highest level in 34 years. Unemployment jumped to 11.9 percent in January, up 0.2 percent from December. Compare that to a rate of 8.7 in January last year. The rates are seasonally adjusted.
January's statewide unemployment rate hasn't been this high since May 1975. Floridians still seem to be feeling the effects of the sour economy more than many other states. The national average unemployment rate was 9.7 percent in January.
Florida's nonagricultural employment in January was 7,144,300. That represents a loss of 6,100 jobs over the month and 303,200 jobs compared to January 2009. The yearly change was a loss of 4 percent. The nation did slightly better in this area with a loss of 3 percent.
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