LABOR STATS: May's unemployment rate drops 1.7% from last year

Ormond Beach Observer
Business

Five of 10 major industries, led by leisure and hospitality, gained jobs over the year.

BY THE OBSERVER STAFF

The region comprising Volusia and Flagler counties recorded an unemployment rate of 7.3% last month, which was 1.3% points lower than the region’s rate May last year, according to the local Center for Business Excellence.

Although it showed an overall increase of 1.6%, the state’s unemployment rate was 0.3% lower than the region’s, where 21,156 residents, out of 288,627 total, are currently out of work.

Volusia County’s unemployment rate is 7%.

Nonagricultural employment in the Ormond Beach-Daytona Beach-Delton metro area recorded 158,000 job in May, up 1,100 jobs from last year.

Five of 10 major industries gained jobs over the year, including leisure and hospitality (900 jobs); trade, transportation and utilities, and education and health services (300 each); manufacturing (200); and financial (100).

Government (600 jobs) and other services (100 jobs) each lost jobs over the year. Mining, logging, and construction; information; and professional/business services remained unchanged.