Florida’s unemployment rate stayed the same last month. But the state’s jobless rate remains one of the best in the nation. The unemployment rate in August was 3-point-3 percent and has been below the national average for four years now. All of Florida’s major employment sectors have added jobs over the year except manufacturing. Warren May is with Agency for Workforce Innovation. He says Florida leads the nation in new job creation. But it’s slowing down.

“We’re kind of leveling off, I think, in the job market and we see nationally sort of the same picture emerges. Although I have to say we still have pretty strong job growth in Florida. [We] added 243,000 jobs since a year ago. But the unemployment rate stayed the same this month.”

Lee County’s unemployment rate in August was a microscopic 2-point-8 percent. Collier increased to 3-point-6 percent. Charlotte: 3-point-5. Hendry County had the highest unemployment rate in Florida at 9-percent, a typical level for this point of the agricultural season.

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The latest monthly unemployment report shows Southwest Florida continues to power the state. Lee County had one of the lowest unemployment rates at 2-point-8 percent. Collier, Charlotte and Sarasota Counties also were below the state average of 3-point-3 percent. Agency for Workforce Innovation spokesman Warren May says the state added a quarter-million jobs over the year...powered by the construction industry.

“If you look at the ability to go and advance in that industry, you can start at basic carpentry and go through specialty trades. And those jobs pay extremely well. So we think there are a lot of opportunities in the construction industry that are good for people who don’t want to go on to college and also it’s good for our economy.”