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By Nikki Cabus

Miami Metro Region has the lowest unemployment rate in the Florida – below national average

Read Time 4 Minutes

The Miami Metropolitan region (Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach) came in with the overall lowest unemployment rate in the state at 2.2%!! 

Last month Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Florida’s economy continues to work for Floridians with February’s unemployment rate remaining at a low 2.6 percent, while the national rate increased to 3.6 percent.

Furthermore, Florida’s unemployment rate has decreased by 0.7 of a percentage point over the year and has remained lower than the nation for 28 consecutive months since November 2020. In February 2023, Florida’s private sector employment grew by 5.0 percent (406,600 jobs) over the year. Between February 2022 and February 2023, Florida’s labor force grew by 247,000 (2.3 percent), which is faster than the national labor force growth rate of 1.5 percent during the same time period.

“Florida’s economy continues to be number one in new business formations while growing our labor force and creating jobs faster than the national rate,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “As the federal government continues to flounder on key issues like inflation, Florida will continue to get the fundamentals right.”

All ten major industries experienced positive over-the-year job growth in February. Florida’s private sector employment increased by 0.4 percent over the month (+34,800 jobs) in February 2023, faster than the national rate by 0.2 percentage point over the month and 2.0 percentage points over the year. In February 2023, Florida employers have added jobs for 33 months since May 2020, with the exception of October 2022. Florida’s over-the-year private sector job growth rate has exceeded the nations’ job growth rate for 23 consecutive months since April 2021.

“Thanks to Governor DeSantis’ ongoing commitment to investing in infrastructure enhancements and workforce development initiatives across the state, Florida’s economy continues to fire on all cylinders,” said Meredith Ivey, Acting Secretary of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO).

“Florida gained nearly 35,000 jobs over the month in February 2023 and our state’s unemployment rate remains consistently low. DEO is committed to continuing to champion Governor DeSantis’ mission through its partnerships and programs to ensure Florida sustains its economic success.”

In February 2023, trade, transportation and utilities gained the most jobs among all major industries, adding 12,800 jobs (+0.7 percent) over the month, followed by education and health services, adding 11,400 jobs (+0.8 percent), and leisure and hospitality, adding 10,700 jobs (+0.8 percent).

Data from the month of February continues to indicate there are many job opportunities available for Floridians throughout the state, with more than 409,000 jobs posted online.

The industries gaining jobs over the year included:

  • leisure and hospitality (+104,700 jobs, +8.7 percent)
  • education and health services (+89,400 jobs, +6.5 percent)
  • professional and business services (+67,300 jobs, +4.4 percent)
  • trade, transportation, and utilities (+62,100 jobs, +3.3 percent)
  • financial activities (+25,200 jobs, +3.9 percent)
  • total government (+20,800 jobs, +1.9 percent)
  • construction (+19,700 jobs, +3.3 percent)
  • other services (+18,300 jobs, +5.4 percent)
  • manufacturing (+16,700 jobs, +4.1 percent)
  • information (+2,400 jobs, +1.6 percent)

Floridians in search of work and new job opportunities are encouraged to turn to the CareerSource Florida network for help. Floridians can find guidance on how to register with Employ Florida and search listings of available local job openings. Career seekers also can improve their employability by perfecting resume writing and interviewing skills, establishing career goals, and pursuing customized career training. These services are provided at no cost to job seekers.

In February 2023, Monroe County had the state’s lowest unemployment rate (1.6 percent), followed by Miami-Dade County (1.7 percent), St. Johns County and Gulf County (2.2 percent each), and Wakulla County and Okaloosa County (2.3 percent each). In February 2023, all of 24 metro areas in Florida had over-the-year job gains. The areas with the largest gains were Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater (+68,700 jobs, +4.7 percent), Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford (+68,300 jobs, +5.0 percent), and Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall (+53,800 jobs, +4.4 percent).

The entire Southeast Florida region, or Miami Metro region, came in with the overall lowest unemployment rate in the state at 2.2%!! The Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall metropolitan division came in first for the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 1.7%. The Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-Deerfield Beach tied for second place for the lowest unemployment rate in he state at 2.5% and West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Delray Beach came in at th8ird -place for the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 2.6%.

To view the February 2023 employment data, visit: www.floridajobs.org/labor-market-information/labor-market-information-press-releases/monthly-press-releases. Visit Florida Insight for more information on labor market and economic data. Additionally, the Department has provided a video to assist users in explaining the data provided through Florida Insight.

 

By Nikki Cabus

Cox Science Center announces they are increasing their campaign goal after receiving multimillions in donations

Read Time 5 Minutes

Cox Science Center and Aquarium (CSCA) leadership announced they are nearly doubling their campaign goal to $85 million.

According to CSCA board and capital campaign chairman Lew Crampton, a recent $8 million gift from Citadel founder and CEO Ken Griffin, coupled with a $10 million award from the State of Florida this summer, gave campaign leadership the confidence to nearly double their original goal announced last year.

In November 2021 Cox Science Center and Aquarium announced a $40 million capital campaign and $5 million endowment initiative and changed its name to reflect a transformational $20 million lead gift from Palm Beach residents Wendy and Howard Cox.

“Just 1 year ago we launched a hugely significant campaign for the Science Center,” said Lew Crampton, Board Member & former Director of the Cox Science Center & Aquarium, “and thanks to tremendous support, we are confident in expanding our original plans with a new goal of $85 million.

We’ve raised $60 million to date, which is 70% of our total goal, in the silent phase alone. Ken Griffin’s momentous commitment to prepare the next generation with STEM education – mastering data science, cloud computing, engineering and more – will make America competitive in a global market and is reflective of our board and other supporters’ vision for the Cox Science Center. We know Palm Beach County deserves a new, cutting-edge science center and our supporters agree.”

The expansion will include renovated spaces, a new three-story science pavilion visible from I-95, new outdoor exhibition spaces and one of Florida’s largest indoor aquariums.

Kate Arrizza, President and CEO for the Cox Science Center and Aquarium said, “Our strategic planning process has considered the projected growth of Palm Beach and surrounding counties – among the fastest in the nation.

Ken Griffin’s move of Citadel to South Florida and his investments in STEM Education is indicative of the influx of new residents in our market and the need for the community to have a state-of-the-art science center has increased exponentially. The expanded campaign goal will allow us to grow our attendance capabilities to serve nearly 1 million guests annually.”

Known for his catalytic giving across a range of areas including education and STEM initiatives, Griffin’s funding is earmarked for the expanded aquarium, with capacity of 200,000 gallons to take visitors through the Everglades, Florida’s inland rivers and Gulf Stream waters. With a focus on sharing the South Florida native’s love of the ocean, Griffin’s funding will also improve interactive educational experiences in Florida’s fifth largest aquarium setting. This will impact nearly 500,000 students annually, 70% of whom are Title 1.

“When students engage with the natural world, they develop an excitement about science that will drive progress for decades to come,” said Ken Griffin. “I hope the expanded aquarium will increase appreciation for our region’s dynamic ecosystem and the work required to preserve and protect it for future generations.”

New additions to the Cox Science Center and Aquarium’s expanded plans include:

  • An interactive extended reality experience, which will be an immersive space featuring 40-foot-tall projections on all four walls, displaying signature programs from rocket launches to deep sea exploration. Visitors will be able to directly interact with the projections using touch screens.
  • An expanded traveling exhibit designed to host more megahit exhibitions.
  • A Digital Arts Studio, which will expand to provide more skill set training such as software programming that aligns with high-demand jobs. An outreach program in partnership with Florida Atlantic University will digitize and nationally distribute the Center’s current video programs.
  • An indoor/outdoor exhibit area designed for early learners ages 6 and under.
  • Expanded programming in the Dekelboum Planetarium and Observatory.
  • An immersive learning lab that will serve as home base for FIRST LEGO League Teams and competitions.
  • An expanded biology lab that consolidates the Center’s preferred provider status to all medical magnet schools in Palm Beach County. Currently, the Center provides 30,000 frog/squid/shark/pig dissections annually, which could be doubled in the new space.
  • Expansion of the existing STEM Education Center that houses a state-of-the-art 3D printing program, coding instruction, and the Palm Beach Florida Chess Club.
  • The Center’s educational partnership with the Palm Beach County School District (the 10th largest district in the nation) will grow, doubling schools served to over 200, including 70 percent of Title I schools to serve English and Spanish speaking students.
  • GEMS (Girls Excelling in Math and Science) program and other distance learning programs will be expanded.

Naming and support opportunities are available for the expanded offerings. A groundbreaking is expected in late spring 2023 with a new targeted completion set for early 2026.

The Cox Science Center and Aquarium is located at 4801 Dreher Trail North in West Palm Beach, FL and its current indoor/outdoor venue features more than 100 hands-on educational exhibits, a 10,000-gallon fresh and saltwater aquarium, digital planetarium, Pre-K focused “Discovery Center,” 18-hole conservation-themed Mini-Golf Course and quarter mile-long outdoor science trail. The Cox Amphitheater hosts daily live science shows, seasonal laser shows and special event programming. One of its celebrated displays includes “Journey Through the Human Brain,” a permanent exhibit that features the most advanced neuroscience research in the world.

As of 2022, Cox Science Center and Aquarium earned the highest Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency rating on GuideStar in tandem with its perfect Charity Navigator score. The Platinum Seal of Transparency indicates that the Center shares clear and important information with the public about its goals, strategies, capabilities, achievements and progress indicators that highlight how it’s advancing its mission.

To learn more about the Cox Science Center’s capital campaign, visit www.CoxScienceCenter.org/Support-us.

Miami Metro Region has the lowest unemployment rate in the Florida – below national average
Cox Science Center announces they are increasing their campaign goal after receiving multimillions in donations