Florida unemployment rate surges to 8.6 percent

Florida's unemployment rate zoomed to 8.6 percent in January, representing 800,000 jobless out of a labor force of 9.3 million, according to figures released this morning. The rate, the highest since September 1992, is up a full percentage point from the revised December rate. In the Tampa Bay area, the unemployment rate reached 9.7 percent as the region has shed more than 42,000 jobs year over year. The one-month jumps in unemployment were sizeable in every bay area county. Pinellas posted an unemployment rate of 9.5 percent, up from 8.2 percent in December. Hillsborough's rate was 9.1 percent, up from 7.9 percent. Pasco's rate was 10.8 percent, up from 9.3 percent.

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