Florida's Unemployment Rises Again, More Than Any Other State in Past Year

Republican Recession Continues to Get Worse Yet No Innovative Ideas from Rubio & Co.

For Immediate Release: April 18, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - Statistics released today from the Department of Labor show Florida's unemployment rate reaching its highest point in more than four years, with 4.9% or almost half a million of Florida's workers out of work in March.

The state's unemployment rate is still slightly lower than the national average of 5.1% but higher than the 4.7% rate average of states in the South.

Florida's was one of only 12 states to see a statistically significant increase in unemployment from February to March. With 17,400 less employed people, Florida had the second highest decrease in employment in the country behind only Michigan, which has the highest overall rate.

In the past year, Florida's unemployment rate jumped from 3.7% to 4.9%. This is the largest of increase of any state in the nation, tied with California, Nevada and Rhode Island.

"The Republican recession continues to take its toll on the people of Florida, but the Republicans in control aren't doing anything to turn this economy around," Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Karen L. Thurman said. "John McCain admits he doesn't understand the economy, and he clearly doesn't comprehend the state's mortgage and housing problems.

"We've got to hope that John McCain isn't taking economic lessons from Florida Republicans like Marco Rubio," Thurman added. "The Republicans created the economic problems so they cannot be trusted to fix them. We need change. The November elections can't come soon enough."