Florida’s jobless rate unchanged for 3rd straight month

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Florida’s unemployment rate is remaining the same for the third straight month.

State officials on Friday announced that the state’s jobless rate was 4.7 percent in July. That’s the same rate as it was in May and June, although it’s lower than the national jobless rate of 4.9 percent.

Florida added 28,100 jobs in July. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics listed only two other states – New York with 37,500 and California with 36,400 – that added more jobs.

In a statement, Gov. Rick Scott noted the addition of 12,100 private-sector jobs.

Monroe County, home to Key West, had the state’s lowest unemployment rate at 3.1 percent. Hendry County had the highest at 11.7 percent.