Florida’s unemployment skyrocketed to 9.4 percent in February, with the number of jobless in the Tampa Bay area breaking into the double-digits at 10.2 percent.

That puts Florida’s unemployment at its highest rate in nearly 33 years.

By comparison, the country’s unemployment rate in February had reached 8.1 percent, a 25-year high.

Follow this breaking story on bay area and Florida unemployment. Look behind the numbers to see a familiar culprit: loss of construction work. To trace a year of lost jobs, check out unemployment since January 2008. (By the way, if you just can't turn away from the bad news barrage, you're not alone.)

Are you now on the job hunt? Here are 10 ideas for finding a job in lousy economy.

-- Jeff Harrington, Times Staff Writer