First-time jobless claims in Florida showed a slight decline over the prior two weeks as month-to-month business optimism dipped.
The U.S. Department of Labor on Thursday estimated 5,365 initial unemployment claims were filed in Florida last week, down from a revised count of 5,458 the week ending Aug. 29, but up from the 5,205 posted for the week ending Aug. 22.
The numbers remain just below the year’s average, now at 5,922 a week.
On Wednesday, the National Federation of Independent Businesses reported its Small Business Optimism Index and Uncertainty Index both declined from July to August.
“Florida’s small business owners continue to report concerns about rising business costs and fewer sales, which has led to a dip in optimism,” NFIB Florida Executive Director Bill Herrle said in a released statement. “Hiring on Main Street has also slowed as owners report labor quality or availability as a top challenge.”
Despite the recent dips, the NFIB indexes both remain above their historic averages.
Nationally, the Department of Labor estimated 206,000 claims were filed last week, a decrease of 1,000 from the prior week’s revised level.
The national unemployment rate stands at 4.1 percent.
Florida’s unemployment rate stands at 4.6 percent, representing an estimated 515,000 Floridians qualified as out-of-work from a labor force of 11.1 million in July.
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