INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Despite state-wide unemployment figures dropping for a second straight month, the figures in Indian River County were not so positive as the number of people out of work rose for the month of May.The work opportunities in the county were not able to be sustained from the drop in April as unemployment rose from 13.2 percent to 13.4 percent for the month of May according to figures released Friday by the Agency for Workforce Innovation.
The unemployment rate represents 8,229 residents out of work compared to 8,168 in April. The 13.4 percent unemployment for the county is higher than the state average of 11.7 percent. The state average lowered to 0.3 percent for May, marking the second straight drop in unemployment.”A growing number of positive indicators, including an increase in job opportunities and a decline in the unemployment rate, provide continued evidence that the state’s economy is recovering,” said Agency for Workforce Innovation Director Cynthia R. Lorenzo.Last May in Indian River County unemployment was at 12.3 percent representing 7,674 county residents looking for work out of a workforce of 62,528.Flagler County (15.1 percent) had the highest unemployment rate in Florida in May, followed by Hernando County (13.8 percent), Hendry County (13.7 percent), Marion County (13.6 percent) and St. Lucie County (13.5 percent).
