Unemployment numbers are moving in the right direction, according to a press release received by Historic City News from Norm Gregory, CCIM, Vice President of Economic Development for the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce.
On Friday morning, when the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity issued its monthly report of State and County unemployment data, a review of St Johns County’s numbers showed that unemployment levels dropped in every month except January when compared to 2010, Gregory reported.
“It is important to consider the human factor when looking at unemployment,” added Gregory, “Nearly 2,000 more St. Johns County citizens are employed today versus 2010. That’s great news.”
In December, the local unemployment rate reported was 8.3 percent — a 1.2 percent drop. The exact increase in last year’s reported employment is 1,913 more county residents working.
Gregory told reporters the Chamber feels confident that when official overall numbers for the year are published in March; those numbers will reflect a month-to-month drop, as well.
“We, the county and the city are working to make this a trend that will continue,” said Chamber President Kirk Wendland. “Hopefully, as projects like the Silver Creek development begin to become a reality, the unemployment rate will continue to drop.”
In July, the St. Johns County Chamber announced that the Silver Creek Project, an assisted living facility being built by Montgomery Land Company, would begin construction this year. The project is expected to bring nearly 200 healthcare jobs to the area.
Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News contributed photograph by St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce
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