Florida inspector general report finds longstanding problems with state unemployment system Department of Economic Opportunity’s CONNECT system crashed last spring Jim Turner, News Service of Florida reporter Published: Tags: The investigation into why Florida paid more than 77-million-dollars for a faulty unemployment technology system is undeway TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida’s online unemployment system was never tested to meet the demands encountered during the coronavirus pandemic, and more than a dozen issues remained outstanding years after the system went live, according to a report released Thursday by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office. The 95-page draft report by Chief Inspector General Melinda Miguel focused on the Department of Economic Opportunity’s CONNECT unemployment system, which cost $78 million and began operating in 2013. The system largely crashed last spring when it was inundated with claims as businesses shut down because of the pandemic.