Labor Market

Shady For-Profit College Welcomed With $350,000 in Tax Breaks

Anthem Education, Shady For-Profit College, Welcomed With $350,000 in Tax Breaks

On Tuesday, Gov. Rick Scott's offices sent out a news release that declared, "Gov. Scott Announces Anthem Education Expansion in Fort Lauderdale, 70 New Jobs." It explained that the for-profit college will be locating its "North American headquarters" to Fort Lauderdale, spending $300,000 on a bui ... More >>

Florida Unemployment Rate Is Best In All The Land

Good news, Florida, you're number one in something that doesn't have to do with concealed weapons, or people who get arrested for shooting themselves in the penis! The state announced on Monday that Florida has begun the new year with a 7.8 percent unemployment rate, which is the lowest since Novem ... More >>

How Barack Obama -- Charlie Crist's Greatest Weapon -- Will Ruin Crist

By now, it's pretty clear what's to happen. Charlie Crist is running for governor -- and, in a way, this has been obvious for some time. But it only became inescapably obvious a few days after Election Day. When Crist got a telephone call. It was from President Barack Obama. He thanked Crist -- who ... More >>

Rick Scott: ADT Will Bring 120 New Jobs to Boca Raton

Rick Scott announced today that home and business security company, ADT, will be bringing 120 new jobs over the next two years in Boca Raton. Last month, Palm Beach County commissioners approved $184,000 in incentives to ADT. These new jobs will add to the nearly 700 ADT employees already based i ... More >>

Allen West Thinks Obama Cooked Today's Unemployment Rate Numbers

In case you haven't heard, the unemployment rate went down to 7.8 percent -- the lowest in four years -- thanks to the addition of 114,000 jobs September and big upward revisions for July and August. Politically, it's good news for Obama, since he's been taking a beating after his bland debate pe ... More >>

Rick Scott Gets Prickly With Reporter At Unemployment Questions

As we've recently pointed out, Rick Scott's been going around bragging about how unemployment numbers have gone down while he's been in office. Of course, what he hasn't mentioned is that the numbers are deceiving since the reason they are down is because people have flat out given up looking f ... More >>

Rick Scott: Expanding Medicaid Is "Not Going to Be Good for Anybody"

Gov. Rick Scott was a guest on CNBC's Squawk Box program this morning, answering questions about everything from Mitt Romney to Florida's unemployment rate. The most interesting discussion, however, occurred when he was asked by the hosts about his announcement that Florida was not going to comply w ... More >>

Allen West Tells Obama to Get Out of South Florida, Fudges "Obamanomics" Numbers

​Welcome to another post in our Allen West Fact Party series, in which we take claims made by the District 22 Republican and attempt to figure out whether they have a basis in reality. In case you were wondering, they usually don't. Today's fact-check comes from not one but two Facebook accounts o ... More >>

South Florida at the Bottom of New Job Creation Rankings

​More than one in five South Florida residents said their employers were firing workers in 2011, according a Gallup poll released this morning.In a Gallup ranking of the nation's 50 largest metropolitan areas, the "Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach" area ranked 44th out of 50 for job creati ... More >>

Unemployment Rates Dropped in January, Allen West Says No They Didn't

The numbers would make more sense if he were wearing his glasses.​The jobs numbers released yesterday look promising -- the nation's overall unemployment rate dropped from 8.5 percent to 8.3 percent in January, and the rate of black unemployment dropped from 15.8 percent to 13.6, the lowest it's b ... More >>

Florida Worst State in Study of Long-Term Unemployment

​More than 53 percent of Florida's unemployed residents went six months or more without work last year -- the highest rate in the country, according to a study from the Hamilton Project, run by the Brookings Institute, a D.C. think tank.To compare, the average unemployed worker between 2004 and 20 ... More >>

Doug Darling, Rick Scott Job-Creation Adviser, Quits

The man who oversees much of the state's job-creation effort submitted his resignation late last week for "personal reasons."It's not clear why Department of Economic Opportunity Director Doug Darling, who was hired for the gig last July, is calling it quits, but it probably isn't for a lack of ... More >>

State of the Union Address: Rick Scott Has an Opinion

​Gov. Rick Scott would like to add himself to the endless list of people with an opinion about President Obama's State of the Union Address last night, so here we go.Here's the short version of the governor's opinion: Businesses don't want to come to America. Except Florida. Florida's cool. And he ... More >>

Florida Qualifies for List of Best-Run States in America for Simply Being a State in America

​Luckily for Florida, a new list of the best-run states in the U.S. of A. included all 50 states or it may not have made the cut.Based on what 24/7 Wall Street calls "the 10 most important measurements of financial and government management," Florida ranked 40th.In fact, a lot of those financial a ... More >>

Cyber Monday Targeted by at Least One Legislator for Not Helping to Create Jobs

​Apparently the only argument coming out in favor or against any bill this session in the Florida Legislature is related to whether it creates jobs.(See: dwarf tossing, ban on.)Today, when people head to the interwebs to buy things at a price that doesn't require setting up a tent outside of Best ... More >>

A Lesson in How to Fudge Charts, Courtesy of Rick Scott's Office

​Gov. Rick Scott's office introduced its monthly chart comparing private-sector job gains against government job gains, and it just didn't look right.Remember, there were 6,900 more government jobs in October than in September, while the number of private-sector jobs increased by 2,600. (That one ... More >>

Florida Unemployment Rate Lowest in 28 Months Thanks to... Government Jobs

​Florida's Department of Economic Opportunity announced this morning that the state's unemployment rate is down to 10.3 percent for October -- the lowest in 28 months -- which is still well above the national rate of 9 percent.The announcement also left out a couple of key facts. First, job creati ... More >>

Rick Scott "Gets to Work" by Playing "DJ Govvy Gov" (Video)

YouTube"DJ Govvy Gov" and his crew.​Gov. Rick Scott may not think Florida needs more anthropologists, but cruise-ship DJs -- that's a different story.The governor held another one of his borrowed "Let's Get to Work" days this Friday at the Port of Miami, and among his duties, the governor's office ... More >>

Florida Employers Registered 69 Mass Layoffs in September, the Fourth-Most Nationwide

hammerle.com​After two straight months of having the second-most mass-layoff events in the country, Florida companies experienced 69 in September, dropping the Sunshine State to just the fourth-most among the 50 states.According to the numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Florida accounted ... More >>

Florida Unemployment Rate Finally Decreases Back to May Level

stuffunemployedpeoplelike.com​Florida's unemployment rate decreased .1 percent to 10.6 percent in the month of September after three months of no change, putting the state back to the same rate it was at in May.According to the numbers released this morning by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the n ... More >>

Rick Scott Issues Press Release Explaining New Definition of 700,000-Job Campaign Promise

​Gov. Rick Scott's office issued a news release late last week to explain the retraction of his campaign promise to create 700,000 jobs on top of the state's "normal growth" projection of 1 million jobs by 2017.It looks like he's sticking to his new story, in which he claims he never promised to c ... More >>

Allen West Finds a New Political Foe: Samuel L. Jackson (Video)

​Just when you thought Rep. Allen West had dumped on just about everyone with differing political opinions, he found out Samuel L. Jackson isn't a big fan of the Tea Party.You know what that means -- a Fox News appearance.Responding to an interview in which Jackson said he agreed with Morgan Freem ... More >>

Florida Dwarf-Tossing Legislation Is About Liberty, Not Jobs, Sponsor Explains

​After being constantly lampooned over the past week since the news broke of his bill to repeal Florida's ban on the drunken game of dwarf tossing, Rep. Ritch Workman would like a chance to explain himself.Shortly after Workman dropped House Bill 4063 in the hopper bill last Monday, people started ... More >>

Rick Scott Promised to Create 700,000 Extra Jobs; Now He'll Smile and Pretend He Didn't

​One of Gov. Rick Scott's main talking points during his campaign was his "7-7-7" plan, which he said would create 700,000 jobs on top of the projected growth of 1 million Florida jobs by 2017.With the statewide unemployment rate staying at 10.7 percent for the third straight month, the state expe ... More >>

Florida Employers Laid Off 1,638 Workers in September, According to Report

​September's numbers on employment from the Bureau of Labor Statistics aren't due until Friday, but a private report says 1,638 Floridians were laid off last month.The consultants at Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. released their findings this morning, reporting that more than 115,000 Americ ... More >>

Rick Scott, "Worst Governor Ever" Electee, Confirms He'll Seek Reelection in 2014

​It's no surprise by any stretch of the imagination, but Gov. Rick Scott has finally confirmed to the News Service of Florida that he's going to run for reelection in 2014.His announcement comes on the heels of being polled at the highest approval rating of his governorship -- 37 percent.He's stil ... More >>

Census: Young People Still F*cked by Recession

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ret0dd/Down and out on mom and dad's sofa.​Now for some bad news. U.S. Census Bureau figures released today show that young people are getting especially pummeled by a recession that supposedly ended two years ago. According to the Associated Press, 20- and 30-someth ... More >>

Florida Is Home to the Second-Most Mass Layoffs in the Nation -- Again

stevewhibley.blogspot.com​For the second month in a row, Florida had more mass layoffs than every other state but California, according to statistics released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.According to the numbers from the BLS, Florida accounted for 78 of the nation's 961 mass layoffs in ... More >>

Florida's Unemployment Rate Remains Unchanged... Again

via Flickr user brajeshwar​For the third straight month, Florida's unemployment rate is at 10.7 percent -- well above the national rate of 9.1 percent.According to the numbers released this morning by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 1,400 fewer unemployed people in August than in July, ... More >>

Democratic National Committee: Florida Would Lose 473,000 Jobs Under Tea Party Economics

​In advance of tonight's GOP presidential debate, the Democratic National Committee has released a report claiming that 9.5 million American jobs would be lost if a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution were implemented by next year -- including the loss of 473,000 jobs in Florida.The reas ... More >>

Debbie Wasserman Schultz on Jimmy Hoffa's "Take These Son of a Bitches Out" Idea: Babble

Debbie Wasserman Schultz, apparently not the spokeswoman for Jimmy Hoffa.​As Democratic National Committee Chairwoman and South Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz ought to know, when she's invited to a Fox News interview, it's probably a trap.Naturally, when she was invited on to Fox & ... More >>

Florida Lost 22,100 Jobs in July, Second-Largest Drop in the Country

​Thirty-one states added more jobs in the month of July, and Florida certainly wasn't one of them.According to the new monthly figures released this morning by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Florida lost 22,100 jobs in July, the second-largest drop nationwide, with Illinois losing 24,900.The ... More >>

Jobs Now PAC Issues "Help Wanted" Ads for Members of Congress Ignoring Jobs Agenda

jobsnowpac.org​Help wanted: Anger management therapist for Rep. Allen West.It's not a real job posting from the congressman, but the Jobs Now political action committee suggests it's closer to job creation than the agenda that was promised -- but has been ignored -- by members of Congress.The PAC ... More >>

Broward County Unemployment Increases Above National Rate

galvestonmusicscene.com​The unemployment rate in Florida didn't change -- still at 10.6 percent for June -- but Broward County, among others in South Florida, posted growing unemployment rates.Broward County passed the national unemployment rate of 9.2 percent, increasing from 9 percent in May to ... More >>

A Tour of Gov. Rick Scott's Dirtiest Deeds

Rick Scott's Flak Provides "Proof" of Job Creation

bc.edu​Gov. Rick Scott keeps talking about how he's creating jobs left and right, but the evidence has been a little hard to come across.Good thing we came across a tweet from the governor's Twitter account that claimed his office has proof he's been getting Florida back to work:"Passed this s ... More >>

Florida Loses 636 Private-Sector Jobs During Rick Scott's Vacation to Canada

See you guys in Brazil!​While we were busy adding up all of those jobs Gov. Rick Scott brought from Canada to Florida during his "trade mission" last week -- zero -- big layoffs were taking place across the state.Now, aside from slaughtering government jobs from the state budget, private businesse ... More >>

Florida Public School Teachers' Salaries Among Lowest In The Nation

​Yesterday the Sun-Sentinel ran a story about how some painters and grass cutters who work for the Broward County School District make more money than highly educated teachers with decades of experience. Well, it may get worse. The Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy released its State o ... More >>

Sky Magazine Gives 32-Page Wet Kiss to Palm Beach County

Sky magazineYou might need a shower after reading this.​Palm Beach County, we hardly knew ye. Mesmerized by the hundreds of empty condos, parade of jail-bird politicians, foreclosure crisis, and pill mills, we've overlooked your many charms. Thankfully, Delta's Sky magazine dedicated 32 glorious p ... More >>

What $9 Million for the West-Klein Race Could Have Bought

Allen West raised $5.5 million to win the race.​The cash poured in from all over the country, as unions, Christian conservatives, Tea Party ideologues, Big Pharma, and Big Oil opened their pockets. With at least $9 million raised in the Ron Klein-Allen West congressional contest, it was one of the ... More >>

Despite Recession, Everglades Club Still Importing Waiters From Abroad

Flicker user: VeronicaCastillo.comThe Everglades Club is an institution on Worth Avenue.​The Great Recession and soaring unemployment rates haven't stopped Florida businesses from hiring cheap, temporary labor from abroad, federal visa records show.In Tampa, one company imported 40 electricians. I ... More >>

Rubio Campaign Lashes Crist for the "One Job" He Cares About

OK, so the housing bubble that exploded in Florida, then the world, may not entirely be Charlie Crist's fault. But that 12.3 percent unemployment figure in the state is just too enticing for Marco Rubio's campaign to resist, especially now that it's looking to keep Republican centrists from bolting ... More >>

Is This What Rock Bottom Looks Like?

Graph: CalculatedRiskblog.com​Let me try to put a positive spin on a super-depressing graph. From the blog Calculated Risk, the graph above shows the high and low unemployment rates from each state since 1976, along with a red line for the current jobless rate. Yes, we're living in the most depres ... More >>

Coming of Age in the Depression

One Person's Trash

Call Centers Overwhelmed With Floridians Needing Public Assistance

You know things are bad when the people who are paid to help the folks applying for public assistance need help themselves. More than five million Americans are seeking unemployment benefits, the most since records of such things have been kept. Now Florida call centers (not pictured ... More >>

Cheese-eating Movie Monkeys

Oui, oui, it's the French Film Mini Fest!

The Great Slurp

Gov. Bush's Scripps gamble is sucking up state funds -- and the Everglades with it