Unemployment rate remains unchanged in Manatee County

MANATEE -- The Florida seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell by one-tenth of a percentage point between the revised February rate of 5 percent and the preliminary March rate, 4.9 percent, according to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.

Sarasota County saw a similar drop in its unemployment rate, from 4.4 percent in February to 4.3 percent in March. Manatee County's rate, however, was unchanged at 4.3 percent. All county data are not seasonally adjusted, meaning it does not account for the predictable seasonal patterns in employment trends.

The seasonally adjusted U.S. unemployment rate was 5.0 percent in March, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The unemployment rate does not include discouraged workers, the group who is not actively seeking employment or who does not find employment after long-term unemployment. The U.S. rate with discouraged workers included was 5.3 percent in March.

Florida's annual average unemployment including discouraged workers was 6 percent in 2015, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Drops in unemployment numbers are a good sign for the state's job market and economy in general and it means less activity for job-placement agencies.

"We are not surprised to see the unemployment rate drop, as we are noticing a slight decrease in the number of job seekers who come into our career centers," said Jen Bartolone, spokeswoman for local employment agency CareerSource Suncoast. "This March we assisted 176 less job seekers with finding employment than we did last year, and along with the dropping unemployment rate we see this as a good sign that these folks are finding employment."

Manufacturing continues to provide job opportunities in the area, Bartolone said. The state's March numbers don't reflect an increase in the number of manufacturing jobs in the North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton area over the past month, but year over year manufacturing employment in the area increased by 4.4 percent.

CareerSource Suncoast still stays busy when the demand for employment services dies down.

"This summer, we will work with 50 incoming high school seniors and recent graduates in Manatee and Sarasota counties over a 5-week period to introduce them to a wide range of careers, connect them with mentors and teach them valuable life and work skills," Bartolone said.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott credited the continued drop in unemployment to the state's private-sector businesses.

"I am proud to announce today that Florida businesses have created more than 36,000 new jobs so far this year," Scott said in a statement. "Florida continues to be a leader in job creation, and our annual private-sector job growth rate has exceeded the nation's for four straight years."

Over the last year, the Tampa area added 42,800 new private-sector jobs according to the release from Scott's office.

Janelle O'Dea, business reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7095 or follow her on Twitter@jayohday.

This story was originally published April 15, 2016 at 4:45 PM with the headline "Unemployment rate remains unchanged in Manatee County ."