Published: Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009

Updated: Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009

Manatee unemployment eases; recovery ahead?

BRADENTON — Manatee County’s unemployment rate eased slightly in October.

Manatee’s jobless rate dipped to 12.4 percent from 12.7 percent in September, according to state labor statistics released Friday.

Despite the sliver of relief, state economist Rebecca Rust warns Florida is still far from recovery.

The state saw unemployment increase to 11.2 percent in October, from 11.1 in September.

“The downturn is expected to remain throughout the course of this year and into next year,” Rust said. “The economic recovery is slower than what we’ve had in the past, and the main difference is the tight credit conditions that are going to make recovery slower.”

The Florida Legislature’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research met Nov. 3 to make its quarterly economic estimates regarding unemployment in Florida.

At the meeting, the state projected Florida’s unemployment will peak at 11.4 percent in the second quarter of 2010 before subsiding in the fourth quarter of 2010.

“We will be confident and hope certainly that we don’t surpass that peak,” Rust said. “Their next conference is in February, and at that time we’ll have to see if they make any changes based on the current economic data.”

In July, the Office of Economic and Demographic Research projected the state’s unemployment rate would peak at 11 percent in the second quarter of 2010.

Florida saw the most job losses (86,100) in October from the trade, transportation and utilities industry.

In Manatee, unemployment remains at a record high as 17,621 people are out of work. Sarasota County saw a minor decrease, too. Its unemployment rate dropped to 12.2 percent from 12.3 percent in September, but the county remains well above its 8 percent rate from October 2008.

“We are cautiously optimistic about the nearly unchanged unemployment rates in Manatee and Sarasota counties,” said Sally Hill, spokeswoman for the Suncoast Workforce Board.

According to Hill, 11,745 people visited the three Jobs Etc. offices in Manatee and Sarasota counties in October, up from 9,807 who visited in October 2008.

“We anticipate that the number of people needing employment services will continue to rise,” Hill said. “The good news is that more employers are letting us know they have job openings. While many of the positions we have posted are seasonal, people are earning income, which will help infuse money back into the economy.”

Aside from holiday hiring, the U.S. Census Bureau is putting people back to work temporarily.

Ed Davis, spokesman for the U.S. Census Bureau, said the agency has set up 57 offices throughout the Atlanta Region, which covers Florida, Alabama and Georgia, in preparation for a workforce for the 2010 census campaign.

Davis said each census office in the region will hire about 1,000 temporary workers. Hourly wages will range between $9.75 and $14.50. The bureau will set up at least one office in Manatee, as well as Sarasota County.

“We are recruiting now so this is timely for many out there,” Davis said.

Those interested in applying for a temporary job with the Census Bureau can call (866) 861-2010 or visit www.2010censusjobs.gov.