Telegraph Staff Writer
STARKE— The unemployment rate in Bradford County increased by 0.5% in June, while Union’s rate rose by 0.2%, and Clay County’s inched up by 0.3% over the same period.
Coupled with a 0.5% increase during May, Bradford County’s jobless rate has increased by a percentage point over two months.
Bradford ended June with an unemployment rate of 3.2%. Union’s rate was 3.1%, and Clay County’s was 2.9%.
According to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, 305 people were unemployed in Bradford during May. That number rose to 360 the following month.
The three counties’ unemployment increases mirrored regional trends. The rate in the Jacksonville Metropolitan Statistical Area increased from 2.7% in May to 3.0% in June. The Gainesville MSA increased from 2.8% in May to 3.2% in June.
Florida DEO said the statewide rate remained at 2.6% in June, unchanged since April. The U.S. unemployment rate was 3.6% in June.
Monroe County had the state’s lowest unemployment rate at 1.9%, followed by Miami-Dade at 2.2% and Franklin County at 2.5%.
Hendry County had the highest unemployment rate of 5.7%, followed by Highlands at 4.6%, Citrus at 4.4%, and Hardee at 4.3%. Putnam and Sumter Counties each had jobless rates of 4.1%.
