Taking the honors

Unemployment stable in February

Two South Florida businessmen were honored during National Small Business Week.

South Florida’s unemployment remained stable in February compared with a year ago, while the region’s three counties all saw upside movement in job creation, according to data released Friday by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.

“We seem to be off to a pretty strong job growth this year,” said Mark Vitner, economist for Wells Fargo. “In Palm Beach County, there’s strong growth in construction. We’re seeing residential development pick up in a big way.”

Broward County’s rate was 4.5 percent, the same as a year ago; while Palm Beach County’s rate bumped up to 4.7 percent from 4.6 percent a year ago.

Miami-Dade County’s rate remained at 5 percent from a year ago.

Broward employers created 20,400 jobs in February, or 4.5 percent over a year ago. The county added the most jobs, 5,200, in professional and business services, followed by 4,000 in education and health services, 3,300 in trade, transportation and utilities, 2,300 in construction, and 1,900 in leisure and hospitality.

The county lost 100 jobs in financial activities.

Palm Beach County employers created 13,200 jobs in February, or 2.2 percent over the year. The county added the most jobs, 3,500, in leisure and hospitality, followed by 3,300 in construction, 2,300 in professional and business services, 2,100 in education and health services, 1,200 in trade, transportation and utilities, 1,000 in government, and 500 in manufacturing.

The county lost 800 jobs in financial activities and 200 in information.

Palm Beach County, which saw a 10.1 percent increase over the year in the demand for construction workers — higher than the 7.1 percent increase statewide — is holding construction and building trade hiring events in April to meet the job demand.

CareerSource Palm Beach County will hold hiring and training events from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. April 12, at North Tech, 7071 Garden Road, West Palm Beach; 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. April 13, at West Tech, 3805 NW 16th St., Belle Glade; and 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at South Tech, 1300 SW 30th Ave., in Boynton Beach.

Miami-Dade County employers created 22,300 jobs in Febru-

ary, or 1.9 percent over the year. The county added the most jobs, 9,100, in education and health services, followed by 3,700 in trade, transportation and utilities; 2,700 in other services, 2,500 in government, 2,400 in professional and business services, 1,400 in leisure and hospitality, 500 in construction and mining, and 300 in manufacturing.

The county lost 300 jobs in financial activities over the year.

Florida’s unemployment rate remained at 5 percent, unchanged from a year ago. The state added 248,000 jobs, an increase of 3 percent over February 2016.

The industry gaining the most jobs was professional and business services, up 3.4 percent over February 2016, the state said.

Statewide, the number of those who left jobs rose to 12.9 percent from 11.7 percent a year ago, while those re-entering the job market increased to 30.1 percent from 29.6 percent a year ago.

The number of new entrants also increased 12.8 percent from 11.1 percent a year ago.