Sunshine Sentinel

As Florida continues to celebrate its economic recovery — one of the most significant in the country — Gov. Ron DeSantis has received much of the praise for the state’s prompt restoration.

“Under the leadership of Governor DeSantis, Florida’s unemployment rate is decreasing,” Secretary Dane Eagle of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity said, according to Tallahassee Reports. “This positive sign shows that Floridians are returning to work and Florida’s economy continues to provide opportunities for meaningful employment. I look forward to working with Floridians to continue these economic successes.”

The state recorded an unemployment rate of 5% in August, representing a 0.1% decrease from the previous month, and nearly a 3-point decrease compared to the same time last year, according to a release from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.  The national unemployment average rate is 5.2%.

Florida's work force reported an increase of more than 65,000 over the month, bringing the total growth within the last five months to 373,000, Tallahassee Reports reported. The growth was also credited to the “success of the state’s ‘Return to Work’ initiative as more Floridians are returning to work,” according to the release.

Florida also joins the group of states that reduced their unemployment benefits early and then saw an increase in employment growth and labor market growth. As the state garnered nearly 20,000 private sector jobs in August alone, its unemployment level has been below the national average for 13 consecutive months as of August of this year, Tallahassee Reports reported.

“Thankfully, federal benefits have ended,” Eagle said, according to Florida News Times. “If you wanted to lose your job, you would have had to work within the last 12 months or less than last year. You no longer have the opportunity to collect indefinitely. It’s no longer an option at Labor Day. Well, it’s a month. It was before, so I think those realities are starting to come in little by little, and hopefully you’ll see the actual action."