Florida’s unemployment rate drops to 7.1%

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Florida’s unemployment rate dipped to 7.1 percent in May, down from the April rate of 7.2 percent, and the lowest since September 2008, according to a video produced by Governor Rick Scott’s office.

“Each month we continue to distance ourselves from the national unemployment rate and it is clear we are succeeding in growing opportunities for Florida families to pursue the American Dream,” said Scott. “Once again, Florida’s unemployment rate is well below the national average.  While Florida communities have experienced some incredible successes, we’ll continue working tirelessly to provide jobs to families across the Sunshine State.”

But, as the Tampa Bay Times‘ Aaron Sharockman noted on Twitter, the state actually lost 6,200 jobs in May.

Peter Schorsch is the President of Extensive Enterprises and is the publisher of some of Florida’s most influential new media websites, including SaintPetersBlog.com, FloridaPolitics.com, ContextFlorida.com, and Sunburn, the morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. SaintPetersBlog has for three years running been ranked by the Washington Post as the best state-based blog in Florida. In addition to his publishing efforts, Peter is a political consultant to several of the state’s largest governmental affairs and public relations firms. Peter lives in St. Petersburg with his wife, Michelle, and their daughter, Ella.