Getting back to work

The jobless rate keeps dropping.

Unemployment fell below 4 percent in Broward County in August, the first time since the Great Recession sent joblessness soaring to new heights.

Palm Beach County had a 4.4 percent jobless rate while Miami-Dade County was at 4.8 percent in August, much improved from the 5.3 percent and 5.7 percent a year ago, respectively, according to Florida’s Department of Economic Opportunity.

The August unemployment report continued the trend of “solid payroll growth” and unemployment ticking down, said Sean Snaith, economist for the University of Central Florida in Orlando.

“Let’s savor the report, the next one might not look as good,” he said.

There were likely displaced workers due to early September’s Hurricane Irma, especially in the tourism and real estate industries, Snaith said. Besides the hit to tourism and real estate purchases, “our businesses aren’t able to operate and get resupplied,” he said.

The hurricane, which was widespread in its impact on the state, could affect jobs reports for three to four months. But he said, “Florida will recover.”

Construction jobs will likely flourish as homes and businesses need repairs. Skilled construction workers already are in high demand with new construction taking place throughout South Florida.

But August’s job creation numbers and job losses over the year show how Broward and Palm Beach have been adding more construction projects and workers, while Miami-Dade County has slowed its construction activity. Broward’s construction employment rose by 10.6 percent since August 2016, and Palm Beach’s by 10.1 percent, while Miami-Dade lost construction jobs.

The jobless rate in Broward was 3.9 percent, compared with 4.8 percent in August 2016, the state said Friday. The county added 26,900 jobs, a 3.3 percent increase over the year.

Broward’s largest number of jobs, 5,900 over the year, were added in education and health services. That was followed by 4,700

in construction; 3,900 in business and professional services; 3,800 in leisure and hospitality; 2,800 in trade, transportation and utilities; and 2,600 in other services; 2,100 in government; 800 in manufacturing; and 300 in financial services. The information industry was unchanged over the year.

Palm Beach County added 16,997 jobs, an increase of 2.4 percent over the year. The largest number of jobs, 4,300, were added in education and health services. That was followed by 3,700 in leisure and hospitality; 3,500 in construction; 3,100 in business and professional services; 1,900 in other services; and 1,400 in government.

The financial activities area lost 1,600 jobs since August 2016; trade, transportation and utilities lost 300 jobs; and information, 300 jobs. Manufacturing was unchanged over the year.

Miami-Dade County added 38,396 jobs, an increase of 2.8 percent over August 2016. The largest number of that county’s jobs added were 7,300 in leisure and hospitality. That was followed by 6,300 in trade, transportation and utilities; 4,200 in education and health services; 3,200 in other services; and 2,100 in government.

The county lost 2,000 jobs over the year in business and professional services; 600 in manufacturing; 500 in information; 400 in construction; and 300 in financial activities.

Florida’s seasonally adjusted rate was 4 percent. The non-adjusted rate was 4.2 percent. County numbers are not adjusted for the season.

The national unemployment rate in August was 4.4 percent.

The state added 221,400 jobs, an increase of 20,100 or 0.2 percent, DEO said. Florida gained the most jobs in business and professional services, which was up 3.3 percent over a year ago.