South Florida saw no major changes in the latest unemployment numbers. But the best news this month goes to the construction industry, which had the largest increase in job numbers. Over 43,000 construction jobs were added over the past year -- more than any other state in the country.
Ken Simonson, chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America, says some of the increase has to do with a backlog of construction jobs that were stalled during the 2008 recession.
“I’m favorably surprised how Florida has consistently been adding jobs at a double digit rate for the past year,” he says. “I don't think that it will stay that strong but it does look as if the state is bringing workers back in from other industries, other states or its training new workers and enticing people to choose construction as a career again.”
He says those construction jobs numbers will depend on how long the private and public sector will finance large projects.
In general, Miami-Dade County saw a small uptick in unemployment in August compared to July, but Broward and Palm Beach counties' numbers held steady.
This month’s unemployment numbers are a reversal from July's, when Dade County’s unemployment fell while Broward and Palm Beach county’s rose.
