ORLANDO, Fla. \u2014 Florida\u2019s unemployment rate fell last month, but state economists are warning that the improvement may not last.<\/p>\n
The state\u2019s unemployment rate dropped to 4.5%, according to the latest data. That represents about 502,000 unemployed Floridians in a workforce of more than 11 million people.<\/p>\n
Despite the month-to-month decline, Florida\u2019s unemployment rate remains above the 4.1% national average.<\/p>\n
The state\u2019s rate is also 0.5 percentage points higher than it was a year ago, a sign that the labor market is facing some pressure compared with the same time last year.<\/p>\n
State economists are watching the numbers closely and are concerned unemployment could begin to rise again later this year.<\/p>\n
For now, the latest figures show a slight improvement, but the year-over-year increase and the gap between Florida and the national rate remain areas to watch as the state\u2019s economy moves through the rest of the year.<\/p>\n
Click here<\/a> to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here<\/a> to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.<\/p>\n