(Andrew Innerarity/Reuters)
If you're unemployed in Florida—and with the state's unemployment rate standing at
10.6%, there's a good chance you are—congratulations! Things are getting worse for you.
First off, on August 1, it's going to be just a little bit harder to collect your unemployment insurance. It will no longer be possible to file for benefits over the phone, which means that if you're one of the 25% of Floridians who lacks internet access (presumably a disproportionately unemployed group), you're going to have to go to the library or your regional workforce board to file the claim. Also, to continue collecting unemployment insurance, Floridians will have to report their contact with at least five potential employers every week.
Beginning in January, the number of weeks of unemployment coverage is cut as part of a corporate tax reduction.
Meanwhile, if you're an unemployed Floridian struggling with the new requirements for collecting your meager unemployment benefits—Florida's unemployment benefits are below average (PDF) for both the nation and the South—there's more bad news. Most of the jobs Florida has gained in recent months have been in low-wage industries:
The industry that added the most jobs, Accommodation and Food Services, also has the lowest average annual wage at $18,842 per year. Two-thirds of the jobs added in the last five months were in below-average paying industries. The top job creators in above-average paying industries were Health Care and Manufacturing, which together accounted for 23% of jobs added since January.
Buyer's remorse doesn't begin to describe it, but Florida is stuck with Rick Scott and his brand of economic improvement for some time to come.