May Employment Numbers Released; Gulf County's Numbers Rise

PANAMA CITY, FL - The unemployment rate in the Gulf Coast Workforce Region (Bay, Franklin, and Gulf counties) was 8.5 percent in May 2009, 4.1 percentage points higher than the region's year ago rate and 1.5 percentage point lower than the state rate of 10.0 percent and 0.5 points lower that the national rate at 9.1. 

Out of a labor force of 100,696, there were 8,553 unemployed Gulf Coast residents. The May 2009 unemployment rates in the counties that comprise the Gulf Coast Workforce Region were:

*         8.6 percent in Bay County,

*         8.4 percent in Gulf County (up from 8.0 last month), and

*         6.4 percent in Franklin County. 

"Our area's unemployment rate is flat in comparison to last month, however; outside of the last six months, our unemployment rate hasn't been in the 8 percent range since early 1998.  We do see signs of improvement, and we are faring better than the nation, and the state; even better than most parts of Florida," said Kim Bodine, Executive Director for the Gulf Coast Workforce Board. 

In May 2009, there were 74,500 nonagricultural jobs in the Panama City-Lynn Haven-Panama City Beach metro area (Bay County), down 3,200 jobs over the year.  The annual rate of job loss in the area (-4.1 percent) was not as steep as the state's rate of -5.5 percent. The May 2009 job loss continues the trend of annual declines that began in May 2008.  In the region, job declines have now spread to most of major industries including Mining Logging and Construction (-18.3 percent), Manufacturing (-16.2 percent), Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-4.8 percent), Retail Trade (-5.6 percent), Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities (-7.7 percent), Financial Activities (-5.6 percent), Professional and Business Services (8.4 percent), Education and Health Services (-1.3 percent), and Other services (-2.9 percent). 

Local industry sectors that aren't declining in jobs include Wholesale Trade and Information which have flat job growth rates and Leisure/Hospitality and Government which have annual increases in employment.  The increase in government jobs is due to additional federal jobs, not local government jobs. 

To assist local unemployed residents, the Gulf Coast Workforce Board is administering $1.7 million in federal stimulus funding for local workforce programs.

"The board has contracted funds with GCCC and the Workforce Center to provide intensive services to those looking for jobs including training, and we have seen good results.  We have at least one hundred folks in the pipeline for training and employment placement right now, and more are signing more up every day," said Bodine.

Individuals interested in assistance should contact Michelle Weiss at the Workforce Center, 850-872-4340 ext. 145.