Jacksonville’s unemployment rate fell in November to its lowest level in more than six years, as the local economy continued to show improvement.
The jobless rate in the Jacksonville metropolitan area — consisting of Duval, Baker, Clay, Nassau and St. Johns counties — fell from 5.6 percent in October to 5.5 percent in November, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity said Friday.
That was the area’s lowest unemployment rate since May 2008, when it was 5.3 percent.
The state agency does not adjust the data for seasonal factors but according to the University of North Florida’s Local Economic Indicators Project, when the data is adjusted, it shows an even bigger drop from 5.78 percent in October to 5.55 percent last month.
Duval County’s unemployment rate fell by 0.1 point to 5.8 percent last month, according to the Department of Economic Opportunity. But on a seasonally adjusted basis, the county’s jobless rate actually rose from 6.03 percent in October to 6.12 percent in November, LEIP said.
“I still think things are positive, given that the overall MSA got better,” UNF economist Paul Mason said.
Florida’s statewide unemployment rate fell from a seasonally adjusted 6 percent in October to 5.8 percent in November, also the lowest since May 2008, the Department of Economic Opportunity said.
The agency’s survey of local businesses found that the Jacksonville area added 17,000 jobs from November 2013 through November 2014, a 2.7 percent growth rate.
Most industry sectors have been increasing jobs, led by a 7 percent growth rate in professional and business services.
The only major private industry sector losing jobs has been the information sector, which fell by 1.1 percent.
The biggest drop in jobs has actually been in the government sector, which fell by 1,100 jobs, or 1.5 percent, in the 12-month period.
Statewide, Florida’s growth rate was slightly higher than Jacksonville’s at 3 percent, the Department of Economic Opportunity said.
(904) 356-2466