Florida's last round of unemployment numbers for the year showed a slight drop to 5.8 percent statewide, down from 6 percent in October.
Gov. Rick Scott announced the latest figures for November from Viewpost, a financial services company in Maitland that plans to create more than 260 jobs over the next three years.
Florida's 5.8 percent unemployment rate for November put it even once again with the national jobless rate. The latest drop was aided by the addition of nearly 42,000 jobs last month. Florida only trailed California in the number of jobs added in November.
Florida's numbers have remained relatively flat for most of 2014, but economists say that's because people are re-entering the job market due to an improving economy.
Scott, who made job creation a centerpiece of both of his election and re-election campaigns, also said the state surpassed one of his top goals as governor.
"Our goal was to create 700,000 jobs in seven years. Today, our goal was reached three years early, with 715,700 private-sector jobs created in Florida since December 2010," said Scott. "I applaud our job creators across the state who sacrifice and work hard to create new jobs."
Payroll provider ADP reported last week that Florida added 13,900 private sector jobs during November. ADP's survey is separate from the one conducted by government agencies.
Scott used Viewpost as a backdrop for his announcement because the company is only three years old, and already planning to roughly double its workforce.
Lena Vargas in Maitland contributed to this report.
Local unemployment by county
November 2014, Central Florida and Tampa Bay area counties only.
(Preliminary, not seasonally adjusted)
| RANK* | COUNTY | NOVEMBER 2014 |
OCTOBER 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 |
Flagler | 8.1% | 8.2% |
| 5 |
Hernando |
7.5% |
7.7% |
| 12 |
Citrus |
6.9% |
7.1% |
| 13 | Marion | 6.8% | 6.9% |
| 18 |
Polk |
6.6% |
6.8% |
| 19 |
Pasco |
6.5% |
6.7% |
| 24 | Brevard | 6.1% | 6.3% |
| 25 | Osceola | 6.0% | 6.1% |
| 27 | Lake | 5.8% | 6.0% |
| 34 | Hillsborough | 5.6% | 5.8% |
| 34 |
Pinellas |
5.6% |
5.7% |
| 38 | Volusia | 5.6% | 5.7% |
| 42 | Manatee | 5.5% | 5.9% |
| 49 | Orange | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| 57 |
Sumter | 5.0% | 5.2% |
| 59 | Seminole | 4.8% | 5.0% |
* Out of 67 Florida counties.