Florida unemployment hits 15-year high

Unemployment in Florida hit 7 percent in October. That's a jump of four-tenths of a percentage point over September and represents the highest jobless rate since December 1993. Florida's unemployment rate is also half of a percentage point higher than the national rate of 6.5 percent, and it is 2.7 percentage points higher than the same month of a year ago.

The new jobless numbers from the state Agency for Workforce Innovation will only compound the problems for Gov. Charlie Crist and the Legislature, who are expected to soon react to news from the state Revenue Estimating Conference on an upwardly adjusted budget shortfall that could reach $2.3-billion in the current fiscal year.

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Comments

Spin that.

repeal minimum wage laws

and our Governor says everything is fine here in the Sunshine State.

How can he NOT call a special session after this news?

Crist needs to get back to Tallahassee to work on this, pronto. He needs to quit flying around on his rich friend's jet, photo-opping with his rich fiance, stay off the morning cable news shows, postpone his lavish Dec 12 wedding, & cancel the Dec 10 holiday party at the Mansion... Florida is in trouble, you freakin' idiot!!!!!!!!!!

There are always jobs for people with degrees. Florida's problem is our schools and an economy that's based repeated cycles of raping our natural resources and overbuilding houses for speculators. All you realtors and developers - get a real job that actually produces something without fattening on environmental destruction. By the way, thanks for all the empty condos and the red tide; you've done wonders for the tourist indusrty as well. Drill baby Drill! Idiots!

all of those obama workers our out of a job.

Speaking of a poor education system...

My guess is that 11:12 graduated from the Floriduh education system.

Can't wait to see the legislature try to tell us all that there should be more tax cutting and more big-business give aways. When will Florida wake up and vote for a new direction for this state? Perhaps a forward direction, not more backsliding?

Throw these bums and looters and cheats out!

The increase in unemployment reflects the huge loss of jobs in the public sector. It's unfair. We need MORE government workers to corral those corrupt republicans still in office, not less. And how about paying a decent wage. With today's inflation rates, no government worker should make less than $50 K per year, to be competitive with the private sector. And considering the high price of gas, public workers should be allowed the opportunity to work at home if their job is suited for it. Either that or provide free daycare at work.

1052 and 1102,

You are what's wrong with this country. When something goes wrong, you turn to the government for answers.

While from the New Deal onward, we have been trained, through a series of government sponsored entities and entitlement programs to do just this, so it's not entirely your fault.

But get over it. We have not only become a nation of whiners, we've become a nation that refuses to accept responsibility for our actions. So unemployment is up. So things are bad. Complaining about the governor or the president or the bailout package will do you absolutely no good. At some point, we all need to look at ourselves for help. If things get real bad, look to your family, your friends, your church for help. Our democratic capitalistic system of government isn't designed to be an employment agency. While it does hand out $1 trillion every year in need based aid to the least fortunate among us(another vestige of new deal entitlements) it cannot and will not be the answer.

I own a small medical transcription company. When doctors see patients they sometimes record symptoms, diagnoses, recommendations, etc. on small voice recording devices. At the end of the day, they email us the voice files and we transcribe these files into writing.

Now, we used to contract out the actual transcription work to facilities in Ocala, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Virginia. A few years ago we experimented by shipping some of this work offshore (mostly to the Phillipines and Eastern Europe) because these facilities carge us about 50% of what the US based facilities do. Butn we were essentially shipping US jobs overseas so we felt kind of guilty. But here's the funny part. The error rate in these overseas facilities was about half of the US based error rate.

So get this, it costs us half the price and the final product is twice as good. And people overseas are translating English into English. I don't believe the people in these Ocala, Connecticut, New Hampshire facilities are any dumber than those in the Phillipines and Bulgaria (where, by the way, English is not their first language) nor do I think their English is necessarily any worse. I believe they learned the language properly, they just don't care. This was reflected in thir work and the fact that most are now out of a job.

Truly truly sad but a perfect example of how we whine and whine and look to the government for help. Get over it.

Work harder.

has anyone done an analysis between the rise of the minimum wage increase and the increase in unemployment numbers? Is there a connection?

11:41 What if I just don't believe your little story?

[Gator(R)]

11:49

I am sure he/she would be devastated.

[Buy Green, Buy American]

Companies that offshore jobs formerly held by Americans are just traitors, plain and simple. If you put a Chinese or Indian to work, you are supporting governments that treat their citizens like slaves. They have no health care, no benefits, they make only enough wages to survive. The cost is certainly cheaper because of it, and because their employers have no regulations to ensure that they mitigate pollution or use resources sustainably. Yes, you will make a few extra bucks in profit, but is this really the life you envision for the vast majority of working people on the planet, and especially for the American workers who have to compete with them, thanks to your greed? I think our government needs to do the responsible thing, and make it very difficult for us to use labor, or to buy goods produced by labor, in countries with no social or environmental responsibility. A first step is accurate product labelling, so American consumers can identify and make the decision to buy responsibly-produced goods. A second step is for American consumers to boycott those goods and services that originate in exploitative countries. If we do that, and support education, we will create a new green economy and a whole new crop of jobs in the US, while planning responsibly for our future.

[Gator(R)]

Gator(R) is a liar but not a traitor.

Because we all have rich family and friends to rely on, right 11:41? Businesses get more hand outs than poor people could dream of. Funny how this "whiner" lecture wasn't addressing the people who are getting the most government funds and assistance. You just don't want to pay any taxes, ever, and have a cheap labor pool. The rest of your spiel is just pie-in-the-sky, pull-up-by-your-own-boot-straps horse crap.

[Gator(R)]

I hate when I call myself names. I did buy a General Motors car that was built overseas. I guess I am really a traitor not a liar.

[Gator(R)]

Traitor or not, if 11:41 didn't ship work overseas, someone else would, undercut prices. Then he would be a 'Traitor without a Business'.

Of course, I am assuming 'his little story is true', there was at least one doubting Thomas out there.

My personal pet peave is McDonald's Happy Meal toys that are all made in China (lead thrown in for free). I can't believe we can't make corny lousy toys cheaper than they can be shipped from China.

12:24 Not if we had educated and patriotic conumers:

"Hello, Joe's Medical Transcription. How may we help you?"

"Yes, I have lots of transcription work to be done, but I need to know if your company is US Government certified as a Socially and Environmentally Responsible Business?"

"Well, no, but our translators in Bangalore and Beijing are twice as accurate as American's who make twice as much!"

"Yeah, right, and my last flat screen TV was supposed to last 20 years, too! Thanks, but I'll pay a little more for good work done by Americans." {Click!}

[Gator(R)]

12:35 - Agree, that would be nice. Try to buy an American-made TV, sewing machine, toy, clothes (that are reasonably priced anyway). It's tough to do.

I usually buy GM autos, not always made in US albeit, been happy with them, but they may be disappearing soon.

Problem is we lose high paying jobs, end up buying from Walmart, resulting in the loss of more American jobs. Vicious cycle.

[Draft Alex Sink for Governor]

It's not about the government solving all the problems or the government causing all the problems.

But the government could work to not contribute to them. While the state budget deficit soars to 2.3 Billion and the prospect of layoffs loom.

Charlie has a responsibility to do something to help the economy and make sure the state doesn't contribute to it.

Instead of doing something to help Floridians -- Charlie is raising money for Jim Greer and the RPOF.

Check it out:

http://draftalex.wordpress.com/2008/11/21/special-session-watch-they-have-no-choice/

11:41... 1052 here... Nice rhetoric.

Because I do work hard - I'm selfemployed - I expect the Governor of the 4th largest state in America to work just as hard.

Crist just days ago was on TV telling the world "everything in the Sunshine State is great, don't even need a sweater" (paraphrased). He ignores the real need for a special session while he is in Calif at a climate summit. So you want to address "working harder" - call Crist.

My comments were not about a handout or looking for gov't to solve my problems. Rather I expect the government in place to function responsibly and ethically.

I think the legislature should do what Charlie does with appointments to agencies that will never succeed...

Have Republican leaders let the Democrats provide a solution and pass it... Name the legislation "The Democrat's Economic Recovery Plan"

See what the responses from the citizens are at that point.

[Draft Alex Sink for Governor]

1:25 - While they are choosing to abdicate their leadership along with Charlie Crist. Why not just elect a Dem Speaker, Dem Senate Pres, and have Crist and Kottkamp resign so that we can have some leaders interesting in, well you know, leading.

[Andrew Allan, Values Voter]

I think businesses should be allowed to hire whomever they want, wherever in the world they want. I think they should also accept the fact that their business is headquartered in the home of the free and the land of the brave. And that being free ain't free. That said, our congressmen need only get a spine and tell these businesses: "Hire whomever you want, wherever in the world you want. But you must pay all of them at the same wage scale as American workers. No more. No less." It's TARIFF TIME!

First of all let's get a pet-peeve of mine out of the way...

They are not "your" jobs, "our" jobs or "American" jobs...those jobs belong to the employer and the employer only.

They are free to hire anyone they want and you are free to buy from wherever you want.

Second, if we had a tax code that wasn't so punishing, you would see more of those jobs move back here.

Did you know that businesses that are HQ in the US, but also do business overseas are actually taxed double?

Why do you suppose that is?

[Andrew Allan, Values Voter]

Same goes for those working here illegally or on h1b visas. Pay them no more, no less than an American person doing the same job in another business. Hire them if you wish, but not at a wage that would place other businesses at a competitive disadvantage.

Bob at 2:10 - If you didn't keep two sets of books, you'd be credible.

Look, I felt bad about shipping jobs overseas but the sad part is people who did not grow up speaking English do a better job than Americans at listening to English words and transcribing them. In comparing some of the work product it was clear that the American product was a result of shoddy workmanship. Repeated words and misspellings both of which are easily corrected using spellcheck were rampant. And sometimes (honestly, some of these doctors are difficult to understand) if a word was too difficult, they would just omit it without any type of notation. Now I don't expect an hourly worker to be familiar with some abstruse syndrome or prescription medication but I do expect some effort. There clearly was very little pride in the work

And sure, I kept some of the cost savings as I am not set up as a 501c3, have employees to compensate, and figure it's just a matter of time before some voice recognition software will make my operation obsolete. But I also passed some of the savings through to the doctors with whom I work and to be honest, they were surprised because concomitant with the savings, they noticed the improved workmanship. What they did with the savings is their business.

It just goes to my point that we're getting soft as a society. We have the best education in the world but not taking advantage of it. Sure, you can skate through a public high school, make C's, get your diploma, and move on. Or you can work hard, take advantage of the more difficult math and science courses, try to make something of yourself.

2:21 -If your American worker was not "working", why did you not simply fire her? Is there a shortage of American workers that the rest of us had not heard about?

At least Ray Sansom is still employed. I'll rest easier knowing that.

One more thing that is NOT dropping like a rock.

Good-bye, "Goodtime" Charlie...

Hey this is great news. Doesn't everyone love a failing economy! The democratic machine and candidates worked the media for a year to convince everyone how bad things are.

I am buying in now. We have made some tough decisions but we are facing this thing the best we know how. It is sad to think of things coming to this but we decided to downsize our small business and in January we will lay off 5 of our 8 employees. For us the worst part of this is knowing our employees are not going to be able to find adequate work here and will likely have to move back to Atlanta or such at the worst possible time to sell their houses. Even though we will give them 3 to 6 months severance pay it won't leave them whole. At least one of them is extremely proud she voted for "change" so at least she will be getting what she wants. We are just not going to continue working 60hr to 80hr weeks and have all the stress involved in an effort to get ahead just so we can pay for all this "change". Now we will just do enough to get by and avoid subsidizing this socialist stuff we are bilked so much for. Look how much payroll taxes are now vs 1940,1950,1960,1970,1980 and tell me why we need to pay more. Sounds like someone did not pay enough up front. And what the H e and double ll did congress do with all that money the people did pay? Why didn't those people save more instead of wanting government to play the shell game with the money somone else earns. Forget it I ain't paying more. We can get by on $80k or so instead of $130k. That means we will not be purchasing another car next year like we typically did when they got three years old. We have been planning on remodeling our house and adding on a room. Not now. Vacations, we didn't take them for seven years while we were working night and day building our business so we have gotten use to doing without. We will take the kids to a few local parks and beaches instead. And believe me we won't be stopping to eat along the way, nope we will pack a picnic instead. I don't want to support anymore workers who don't pay tax on everything they earn and largely vote obama if you look at the stickers on their car and buttons on their shirts. Just to feel like I am doing my part to help bring about "change" we have sold most of our stocks since the election, finished paying off some debt and set aside as much cash as we think we will need to get by for the next few years.

So, "change" is on the way for those who thought they were going to soak us. Let those obamabots who keep a job learn how to pay more taxes so the government can give the money they earned to someone who the government thinks deserves it more. Now that is going to be "change" for the better!

The economy is good. I make macramé plant holders and rings, bracelets and jewelry from silver forks and spoons and sell them at the flea market. I am part of the gray market. I also collect social security disability from an accident and I use a powered wheelchair. That's my way of double dippin'.

Stop your whining and become creative.

Lets try making it illegal for anyone having reached their 65th birthday to work.

How are young people or immigrants supposed to get jobs if the older people don't stop working?

These people had their shot in life to make something to call their own and did what they did. They should not be allowed to hang on and prevent the following generations from having the same oppotunity they did.

If this doesn't work for those who always want it all their way then lets go at it another way. Let us agree that it would not be legal for anyone receiving social security and or medicare benefits to work.

Unemployment would drop like a rock, younger generations would have some hope they could improve their lot in life.

Also, in the future people would plan on saving more to supplement their retirements since the government really won't take care of you no matter how much you vote for them to. They just cannot afford to serve as hand maidens for both the corporations and the peons who work for them.

To 12:41 - Sorry for your troubles and even sorrier for your attitude. Running a small business is HARD WORK! Being responsible to your employees and your customers easily leads to those kinds of back-breaking hours - or did you think you could just open the business and everything would just fall into place, leaving you scads of free time to hobnob with your other neo-con idiot friends?

No doubt being unable to gripe to them about all your gubmint swill sucking employees and how hard they've made your life has made you a grump.

If you believe that your employees (most of whom probably made less than $14.00 per hour - HELLO - NOT a living wage!!!)
are the primary source of your problem since the remedy is laying most of them off, then I'm guessing you'll just run your business yourself...

Or will you chain your remaining employees to their work stations to force them to do their jobs and those of their departed co-workers too? And, when they quit, use their disloyalty to fuel your already inflated sense of persecution?

Shoot, make your life really easy and just hire you up some "guest workers" - they'll work for peanuts, are easily replaced and you don't need to be payin' any of those pesky gubmit required dollars like you do for the LEGAL employees. AND, as a special, added attraction, ICE will put them in jail and deport them when they raid your business but you'll be able to open your doors the next morning and hire more of them. You'll also have the satisfaction of knowing that you'll be contributing to the effort to return our country to the '50s (the 1750's that is when slavery was legal and massas were gods).

What our government "gives" to workers and the taxes you pay as an employer and as a business HAVE gone up. So has the cost of everything else including whatever goods or services you sell. It's called inflation and is a by-product of our capitalist, profit-pursuing way of life here in the good old USA. GET OVER IT!!

Corporations, both domestic and foreign, pay less US tax in inflation adjusted dollars and as a percentage of their income today than they did in the 1950's - the "golden era" of american business.
It was also the golden age of the american worker - a correlation you somehow missed in your education.

If you'd like to complain, complain about the substandard educations your current and future employees are getting here in the Sunshine State. They could probably do a better job for you if they could read and write. Complain about the high cost of living here and the low wages that most employed people here make. Those workers of yours certainly don't have much disposable income to buy what you sell. Complain about the high cost of housing, property and car insurance. They certainly eat up a larger share of a Floridian's dollar than they do in other states - again, leaving less dollars to buy whatever it is that you sell. Heck, complain about the whole employee health insurance swindle being forced down your throat since we can't come up with any better system than making businesses responsible for the health of our nation.

But DO NOT - NOT EVER - try to sell your swill about this being all the fault of the great unwashed masses and the gubmit that does nothing but rob you to feed them. If you really want slaves and the easy life - move to a country that'll accomodate you - better hurry - there aren't many left...

Shoot, you have to go all the way back to the Clinton years to match the economic turmoil we are in now.

[Sheila]

I'd just like to know what the heck is going on with the FL unemployment office? No one answers the phone there? I've been trying for two weeks and it's busy all the time! When I do get through and key in my SSN and password it just tells me their experiencing high call volume and I have to call back at another time. When exactly would that be??? I've tried all different times! I think they need to hire some of us to work there! I have two degrees and been unemployment since Oct. 1st, 2008.