03/16/2012: Whither Florida? 

southpoint.frbatlanta.org

When the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released January state employment data on March 13, they showed that Florida had lost 38,600 jobs—a decline of 0.5 percent from December levels.

Job losses in the Sunshine State occurred in several sectors, with education and health care posting the largest decline, down 11,000 jobs. 

Given the long-term strength of this sector (up more than 6.4 percent since the end of 2008), we are not reading too much into a one-month dropoff. 

Other sectors shedding jobs in January were government (down 8,100 jobs), professional business services (down 6,400 jobs), and construction as well as trade/transportation/utilities (both losing a net 6,200 jobs). 

Only information services and manufacturing posted monthly net gains in employment: they were up 1,800 and 500 jobs, respectively..........

http://southpoint.frbatlanta.org/southpoint/2012/03/whither-florida.html