PANAMA CITY — Bay County’s unemployment rate saw an uptick in January, rising to 6.5 percent from 6.1 percent the previous month.
But while the unemployment rate increased, so did the number of jobs in the Bay County area.
According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Bay County area had 71,500 nonagricultural jobs in January, a gain of about 1,500 from January 2013, when the unemployment rate was 9.2 percent. The figures reflected an annual job growth rate of 2.1 percent.
January employment data from the BLS also was accompanied by revisions to last year’s numbers as part of an annual benchmarking process, in which data is adjusted using tax records and participation in the state’s re-employment assistance program.
Kim Bodine, executive director at CareerSource Gulf Coast, said many jobs estimates BLS reported last year did not support the organization’s anecdotal observations. The BLS consistently reported 600 fewer jobs in the Panama City-Lynn Haven-Panama City Beach metro area throughout 2013, but local employment data has since been adjusted to show job growth.
“Over the past year, we’ve seen several positive signs in the local job market, so we are not surprised that the annual benchmarking process has revised our numbers to show job gains,” Bodine said. “The unemployment rate has dropped 2.5 percent [year over year] and the number of online jobs advertised has increased by almost 20 percent.”
Adjusted figures from December 2012 to December 2013 showed an increase of 1,200 jobs. The largest gain was seen in the trade, transportation and utility industries, which added 900 jobs in that time frame, followed by professional and business services with 800 new jobs, financial activities and manufacturing, with 200 jobs each, and 100 new jobs in education and health services.
Government jobs saw the greatest decline year over year, with 300 lost jobs. The leisure and hospitality industry also saw a loss of 200 jobs, with 200 additional jobs lost in other services.
While the Bay County unemployment rate rose, the state unemployment rate continued to dip in January.
Florida’s unemployment rate held steady at 6.1 percent, the lowest it has been since June 2008, and below the national average of 6.6 percent. According to the BLS, Florida added close to 200,000 jobs in the last year, the third highest in the nation.
Gov. Rick Scott has contended the unemployment rate is dropping due to his policies, but state economists have said a big reason for the decline could be due to people leaving the labor force or delaying their job search.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is scheduled to release February employment data March 28.
January 2014 December 2013 January 2013
Bay………………6.5…………………….6.1……………………….9.2
Calhoun………...6.0……………………..5.6……………………….7.9
Franklin………...6.0……………………..5.3……………………….7.9
Gulf……………...6.9……………………..6.2……………………….8.4
Holmes………….5.6…………………….5.2……………………….7.1
Jackson…………5.3……………………4.8……………………….7.2
Walton…………...4.2…………………....4.0………………………...6.1
Washington……..7.5…………………....7.0………………………...9.8
Bay County breakdown
January 2014 - Labor force, 87,686; employed, 81,977; unemployed, 5,709; unemployment rate, 6.5 percent
December 2013 - Labor force, 86,809; employed, 81,477; unemployed, 5,332; unemployment rate, 6.1 percent
January 2013 - Labor force, 87,519; employed, 79,508; unemployed, 8,011; unemployment rate, 9.2 percent
Note: Data is not seasonally adjusted