Florida’s Unemployment Rate Edged Up In May

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida’s unemployment rate is edging up slightly.

New numbers released Friday show that the state’s unemployment rate in May was 6.3 percent. That’s slightly higher than April figure and for the first time in many months the state’s jobless rate matches the national jobless rate.

There are roughly 606,000 jobless Floridians.

The bump in the rate is not totally unexpected. Economists had expected it to grow slightly as more people start seeking work as the economic recovery continues.

But Florida also lost nearly 18,000 jobs last month.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said that was the steepest drop in jobs in the nation.

Gov. Rick Scott has made job creation a main point in his re-election campaign.