Detours: a country in search of direction
On the eve of the election, a reporter and photographer set out for Washington, via America. We tell stories from seven towns, touching on seven issues from politics and real life.
Friday Night Rewind It doesn't matter which team you cheer for. We've got video previews of every high school football program in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando County.
The state delivered more gloomy news on the job front Friday: The unemployment rate jumped to 4.9 percent from 4.6 percent as another 17,400 nonfarm jobs disappeared in March. That put Florida just below the U.S. rate of 5.1 percent and the highest since February 2004.
Florida's showing was second worst in the nation on two fronts; only Michigan lost more jobs and only California saw a bigger jump in the unemployment rate.
All told, 36 states posted a month-to-month increase in unemployment. In the Tampa Bay area, unemployment rose to 5.1 percent from 4.8 percent, pushing it to the highest rate in five years.
FLORIDA'S GLOOMY SIDE
Construction
1-month change: - 1.2%
1-year change: - 13.1%
Real estate
1-month change: - 0.5%
1-year change: - 2.8%
Insurance and finance
1-month change: - 0.3%
1-year change: - 1.1%
Manufacturing
1-month change: - 0.4%
1-year change: - 5.5%
FLORIDA'S BRIGHT SIDE
Education
1-month change: + 0.2%
1-year change: + 4.1%
Health care and social services
1-month change: + 0.3%
1-year change: + 3.5%
Government
1-month change: + 0.2%
1-year change: + 2.2%
Entertainment, recreation and arts
1-month change: + 0.2%
1-year change: + 2.3%
[Last modified: Apr 23, 2008 11:08 AM]
Comments on this article
by Bud
Apr 23, 2008 11:08 AM
Looks like free interprise is shrinking while government is still growing. How can that be a "bright side"?
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