Broward leads S. Florida in job growth

Average rate outpaces nation

December capped off a positive year for South Florida’s workforce, which saw unemployment decrease and job growth increase in 2016.

Of the three counties, Broward County saw the largest job gains in December, accounting for 46 percent of the total job growth in the region.

“The entire year was fairly solid in terms of job growth and reduction in unemployment,” said PNC Bank economist Mekael Teshome. South Florida’s average job growth in 2016 was 2.4 percent compared with 1.5 percent nationwide, he said.

In December, unemployment rates in Palm Beach and Broward counties remained the same, at 4.7 percent and 4.4 percent, respectively, compared with a year ago. Miami-Dade’s rate declined to 5.3 percent from 5.7 percent in December 2015, according to Florida’s Department of Economic Opportunity.

Broward added 28,100 jobs in December, a 3.4 percent increase over a year ago.

The Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-Deerfield Beach metro area ranked third in job growth in December, behind Orlando and Tampa metro areas, the state said.

The county added the most jobs, 9,100, in trade, transportation and utilities; 6,000 in professional and business services; 4,400 in leisure and hospitality; 3,600 in education and health services; 2,700 in financial activities; 1,400 in government; 1,000 in manufacturing; and 100 in information.

The county lost 100 jobs in construction and 100 in other services over the year.

Palm Beach County added 9,900 jobs, a 1.6 percent increase over the year.

The county added the most jobs, 3,700, in leisure and hospitality, followed by 2,200 in education and health services, and 1,300 in construction. Palm Beach County also added 1,000 in trade, transportation and utilities; 900 in government; 800 in other services; and 700 in professional and business services.

The county lost 500 jobs in financial activities, 100 in manufacturing, and 100 in information over the year.

Miami-Dade County added 22,800 jobs, a 2 percent increase over the year.

The county added the most jobs, 6,500, in leisure and hospitality, followed by 4,700 in professional and business services; 3,800 in trade, transportation and utilities; and 3,200 in financial activities. Miami-Dade also added 2,100 in other services; 1,900 in education and health services; 600 in construction; 100 in manufacturing and 100 in information.

Miami-Dade lost 200 jobs in government over the year.

Teshome said he expects that the unemployment decline “has run its course. We’re getting back to normal.” He expects job growth to moderate to about 2 percent in 2017, but said federal changes that increase infrastructure spending and cut taxes would benefit the region.

“If more people have money to spend, it’s a positive for South Florida,” he said.

Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.9 percent, a decline from 5.1 percent a year ago. County rates are not seasonally adjusted.

The state added 251,400 jobs over the year, an increase of 3.1 percent.