PANAMA CITY— Bay County’s unemployment dropped 1.7 percentage points in February from the same month a year ago, going from 8.1 to 6.4 percent, according to figures released Friday by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.
That figure mirrored the statewide decrease of 1.5 percentage points, from 7.8 to 6.3, during the same timeframe.
The county also showed a decrease in unemployment from January, dropping from 6.6 to 6.4 percent in a month.
“Generally, this time of year brings increased opportunities in tourism and hospitality,” said Kim Bodine, executive director of CareerSource Gulf Coast, in a press release. “It is good to see all three of the counties (Bay, Franklin and Gulf) we serve with lower numbers than last month — but there is much work left to do.”
In February 2014, there were 73,200 nonagricultural jobs in the Bay County metro area, up 1,600 jobs over the year. The metro area’s annual rate of job growth was 2.2 percent, while the state increased at a rate of 3.0 percent.
Six out of 10 industries gained jobs over the year and two industries lost jobs. Professional and business services, which was up 900 jobs, gained the most jobs, followed by trade, transportation, and utilities, at 600 jobs; mining, logging and construction, 300 jobs; financial activities, manufacturing, and leisure and hospitality, 100 jobs each.
Industries losing jobs were government, which was down 300 jobs, and “other services,” down 200 jobs. Information and education and health services remained unchanged over the year.
Bodine noted other positive indicators in the report.
“Job postings are up, and it is encouraging to see employer confidence climbing,” she said. “This is a direct reflection of growing optimism in our economic recovery.”
In the surrounding counties, Walton had the lowest unemployment rate at 4.2 percent, while Washington had the highest at 7.5.
Even as the state’s unemployment rate held steady, the state gained an estimated 33,400 jobs last month. Only California and Texas gained more jobs in February.
Gov. Rick Scott stressed the job gains on Friday during an appearance at the Port of Tampa, saying the latest numbers continue to show that businesses are growing in the state. Scott maintains his policies since becoming governor in 2011 have helped the state's economy recover.
"It is clear that businesses are growing and creating more jobs and opportunities for Floridians," Scott said in a statement. "We are moving Florida's opportunity economy forward."
State economists have said a big reason for the unemployment rate decline since December 2011 is that people are leaving the labor force or had delayed their job search.
But Sean Snaith, an economist at the University of Central Florida, said the latest numbers are signs that people are beginning to look for work again. That's why the addition of jobs did not change the overall rate.
"I think it's consistent with a recovering labor market," said Snaith.
But Snaith cautioned that as people start looking for work again it will make it more difficult for the unemployment rate to drop in the months ahead.
County Feb. jobless%...Jan. jobless%...Feb. 2013 jobless%
Bay: 6.4 6.6 8.1
Calhoun: 5.8 5.9 7.3
Franklin: 6.0 6.1 6.7
Gulf: 6.5 7.1 7.7
Holmes: 5.5 5.5 6.6
Jackson: 5.3 5.3 6.6
Walton: 4.2 4.3 5.5
Washington: 7.5 7.6 9.1
Source: Florida Department of Economic Opportunity