Gov. Rick Scott this week announced that Florida tied Georgia for the fastest private-sector job growth rate of the 10 largest states in the nation. In the last year, Florida added 233,800 new private-sector jobs, the second-most in the entire nation. Florida’s private-sector job growth rate, which is 3.2 percent, has outpaced the nation’s rate, which is 1.7 percent, for five consecutive years. Florida’s manufacturing industry also led the nation in job gains in March.
“Month after month, Florida’s economy continues to outpace growth in other top competitor states, like California and Texas. Florida’s manufacturing industry is also leading the nation in job creation, which is a testament to our focus on diversifying our economy,” the governor said.
In the last year, Florida added 13,100 new jobs in the manufacturing industry, the most of any state in the country. Florida has led the nation in over-the-year manufacturing job gains for the last nine months. The state had the second-highest job gains among all states in the trade, transportation and utilities, professional and business services, financial activities and construction industries, Scott said.