Sunburn â The morning read of whatâs hot in Florida politics â 5.26.21
Here s your AM rundown of people, politics and policy in the Sunshine State.
There may be no more competitive race for Congress anywhere next year than the one for Floridaâs 10th Congressional District, where three vibrant criminal justice reform crusaders want to replace Rep.
Val Demings.
Natalie Jackson, who both announced their candidacies Tuesday, and former State Attorney
Aramis Ayala, whoâs announcing her candidacy Wednesday, are all Democrats.
Randolph Bracy tossed his hat in the ring for CD 10, which is starting to heat up. Image via Colin Hackley.
Florida unemployment ticks up slightly as state sees job surplus Our biggest hurdle is finding employees, Melode Smelko, owner of Altrua Global Solutions, says
Floridaâs unemployment rate is up slightly. Economists today saying it grew a tenth of a percent from March to April, landing at 4.8%.
and last updated 2021-05-21 18:57:08-04
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. â Florida s unemployment rate is up slightly, economists reported Friday.
The latest numbers from Florida s Department of Economic Opportunity show the rate grew a tenth of a percent from March to April, landing at 4.8 percent. The current national average is 6.1 percent.
The good news is that the state s labor force grew too, up 73,000 over the month. It now sits at its highest since the pandemic began.
Department of Economic Opportunity Director
Dane Eagle announced Wednesday that Florida will not extend its work search waiver for the unemployed.
The waiver, implemented during the pandemic’s peak, allowed Floridians to collect unemployment benefits without proving they were searching for a job.
The state will now encourage the unemployed to find work through a new Return to Work program that aims to connect Floridians to jobs and accelerate Florida’s economic rebound.
Eagle said more than 400,000 jobs are available in the Sunshine State. And with ample vaccine supply, he asserted, it’s time to get back to work.
“You’ve seen restaurants that have had to close earlier or open later or close certain days of the week,” Eagle said
Floridaâs failed unemployment system needs much more scrutiny | Editorial
Too many lawmakers seem to have lost interest in determining how hundreds of thousands of Floridians were left in the lurch as the unfolding pandemic wiped out their jobs.
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This article represents the opinion of the Tampa Bay Times Editorial Board.
Published Mar. 12
Updated Mar. 12
State officials want to spend $244 million to overhaul Floridaâs failed unemployment system, a staggering amount on top of the millions already spent on this ongoing debacle. The company that built the broken website insists itâs not to blame, and too many lawmakers seem to have lost interest in determining how hundreds of thousands of Floridians were left in the lurch as the unfolding pandemic wiped out their jobs. Before anyone in Tallahassee cuts a check, Floridaâs leaders and taxpayers should demand a lot more accountability.