County Unemployment Rate Shows Sharp Drop

By Suzanne Schmidt
Unemployment in Miami-Dade County has decreased 1.2% since May 2004 with analysts forecasting continued jobs growth in certain trades.

The most recent jobless report shows the county’s rate at 4.3%, down from 5.5% the previous year, according to the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation and the US Department of Labor.

South Florida Workforce spokeswoman Marie Bertot said Tuesday that she expects some industries to add jobs in growing sectors while unemployment is decreasing.

The Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall metro division had an increase in non-agricultural employment, adding 16,200 jobs between May 2004 and May 2005, according to the agency’s statistics.

The labor department’s board indicates industries expected to grow in the county include business services, construction, automotive/ mechanics, education, health services, IT/telecommunications, tourism/hospitality and film and entertainment, Ms. Bertot said. Local sectors showing the largest employment gains during the past year are leisure and hospitality, 5.7%; professional and business services, 3.6%; and education and health services, 2.2%.

South Florida Workforce functions as a development program in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties, using federal funds to provide employment services, labor information and training for disadvantaged workers. The program focuses on job-growth studies because it earmarks funds toward those sectors, Ms. Bertot said.

A quarterly survey conducted by Manpower Inc., a firm that analyzes staffing needs, indicates there will be an increase in the third quarter of 2005 in jobs in non-durable goods, manufacturing, transportation/public utilities, finance/insurance/real estate and public administration. Between July and September, Manpower reports, 33% of US companies interviewed plan to hire employees.