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Jobless Claims Inundate State

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By CATHERINE DOLINSKI

cdolinski@tampatrib.com

Published: October 11, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - So many Floridians are seeking unemployment benefits that the state's work force agency has hired more staff and expanded its hours just to keep up with the calls.

The state Agency for Workforce Innovation paid out nearly $262 million in federally funded aid for the unemployed in September - a 218 percent increase over last year, when paid benefits totaled $82 million. Money to pay the claims comes out of a $1.7 billion trust fund supported by a payroll tax on businesses.

With the number of unemployment claims mounting - 9,694 filed on Wednesday alone - the work force agency has hired 300 temporary employees, increased its phone lines and expanded call-in hours into early mornings, evenings and weekends, spokesman Robby Cunningham said.

He insisted that the mounting caseload is not delaying payments. "We are being very proactive to ensure that we are able to serve our customers."

But to receive payments, beneficiaries must contact the state work force agency each week to "certify" their unemployed status. That's been a problem lately for some people, who have failed to get through on peak days like Monday and Tuesday.

Jobless residents can also file and certify claims online, but Web site problems have delayed and, in some cases, stopped people from completing the process. The department is working to resolve the problem.

One issue that has increased the department's workload: a law signed by President Bush in June that extended payouts, normally 26 weeks, by 13 more weeks.

At the same time, Florida's unemployment has risen to 6.5 percent, exceeding the national average to reflect the state's loss of more than 99,000 jobs this year.

In Hillsborough County, the unemployment rate is slightly higher, at 6.7 percent. Year-to-date through August, the county's number of unemployment claims - 47,610 - exceeded the number filed through all of 2007.

At that rate, the total number of claims filed this year will exceed those in 2006 and 2007 combined, said Michael Garcia, work force services manager of the Tampa Bay Workforce Alliance. "I know they are very taxed at the unemployment office."

The nonprofit Alliance provides job training and services to the under- and unemployed. In August, 4,260 people were registered with the Alliance for job services - a 12.4 percent increase over the previous year, Garcia said. Year-to-date, he said, 31,528 people have registered for employment help, an increase of 24 percent.

Locally, jobs are still available in education and health care services, he said. Temporary and administrative work, on the other hand, is becoming scarce as businesses tighten their belts. Overall, the "labor surplus" has many people competing for the same jobs.

"Right now, employers can pick and choose," he said. "In the past they would consider on-the-job training to get skilled labor. Right now they don't need to offer training, because they have people applying who are already trained. It's become an employers' market."

Reporter Catherine Dolinski can be reached at (850) 222-8382.

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