The unemployment rate in Palm Beach County was 12.5 percent in January 2010, up 0.7 percentage points from the previous month’s rate of 11.7 percent, and 3.5 percentage points above the County’s rate of one year ago, which was 9.0 percent. Out of a labor force of 613,156 in Palm Beach County, there were 76,461 unemployed residents. The County’s unemployment rate was 0.3 percent higher than the State of Florida’s rate of 12.2 percent in January 2010, and higher than the United States’ rate of 10.6 percent in the month. The only industries that gained jobs in the County over the past year were private education and health services, which gained 600 jobs during the 12-month period. Job losses during the past year were greatest in construction (- 6,500 jobs). Other industries losing jobs included: leisure and hospitality (- 6,000 jobs); retail and wholesale trade (- 4,000 jobs); financial activities (- 3,200 jobs); manufacturing (- 1,900 jobs); and information (- 1,000 jobs).
