Unemployment Rate Drops in December 2010

The US unemployment rate dropped to 9.4% from 9.8% in December 2010. On top of that figure, 103,000 jobs were created last month.

The high unemployment rate has contributed greatly to the present recession, but the shift in statistics suggests a positive change in our nation's economy.

President Obama highlighted these statistics in a recent speech, and expressed his optimism for a speedy economic recovery.

Florida's Unemployment Rate Drops in April 2010

Florida's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for April 2010 is 12%, down from March's 12.3%. This is the first time Florida's unemployment rate has gone down since February 2006, signaling a possible shift in the job market.

Even so, 1,113,000 out of 9,282,000 Floridians in the labor force are still jobless and the state still has a long way to go before unemployment rates return to normalcy.

Nationally, the unemployment rate rose from 9.7% to 9.9%; but this is not bad news. The unemployment rate does not take into account hidden unemployment, or discouraged workers who have given up on the job search. Many of the 9.9% were discouraged workers who regained confidence in the job market and have begun to look for work again.

Stimulus Spending has Helped 153,000 Florida Workers

A year ago, Florida expected to receive $12.5 billion from the stimulus bill. Now the estimate is up to $19.5 billion, as 153,000 Florida workers' jobs have been either saved or created as a result of stimulus spending.

Although Florida still suffers from a rising unemployment rate, currently at 12.3%, conditions would be much worse without the federal spending which extended unemployment benefits and created job opportunities for Floridians.

The stimulus bill has helped save or create jobs for 2.8 million workers nationwide.