The unemployment rate in Palm Beach County in July 2010 was 12.2 percent, up 0.4 percentage points from the previous month, and up 0.7 percentage points from the same month a year ago.

   The County’s unemployment rate was higher than the State of Florida’s rate of 12.0 percent in July, and 2.2 percentage points higher than the USA rate of 9.7 percent, not seasonally adjusted.

   Six industry categories (as defined by the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation) experienced job growth in the County in the past 12 months: the private education and health services category (+ 2,200 jobs), government (+1,300), retail trade (+1,200), professional and business services (+1,200), leisure and hospitality (+600), and wholesale trade (+500). During the previous month, only four of the categories had job growth. 

   Palm Beach County’s job losses during the past year were greatest in the construction industry category (- 5,000 jobs) and financial activities (- 1,300 jobs).

Read More