Palm Coast-Flagler Regional Chamber of Commerce issued the following announcement on September 17.
Flagler County Adds Just Three Jobs in August 2021, Unemployment Declines to 5.3%
The Palm Coast-Flagler Regional Chamber of Commerce last month shared its concerns about the COVID-19 Delta variant impacting job growth in Flagler County. Today, the concerns were confirmed as just three jobs were created in Flagler County in the month of August 2021. Despite job growth being put on pause, the unemployment rate in Flagler County continued its declining trend to 5.1%, down 0.2% from last month.
“Because job creation data is a lagging indicator, we did not know the impact of the Delta variant until now. The data shows just three jobs were created in August 2021, as employers put hiring on pause in response to the incredible spread of COVID-19 in our community over the past 8 weeks,” said Greg Blosé, President & CEO of the Palm Coast-Flagler Regional Chamber.
Despite Flagler County’s disappointing job growth data, the unemployment rate dropped from 5.3% to 5.1%, month-over-month, mostly due to a decline in the number of unemployed residents and a decline in the labor force. According to today’s data release from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity:
- Flagler County’s labor force remained flat, losing just 74 residents in August 2021, and
- The decline in residents claiming unemployment benefits continued with 77 fewer recipients being reported last month.
“Employers weren’t the only ones hitting the pause button in August, as the Delta variant appeared to have kept job seekers on-hold, as they monitored the impact of the COVID surge in Flagler, which is just now beginning to subside,” Blose continued.
Flagler County employment grew from 46,409 in July 2021 to 46,412 in August 2021, an increase of just three new jobs. Meanwhile, the labor force declined from 48,997 in July 2021 to 48,923, a decrease of 74 Flagler County residents. The number of unemployed residents in Flagler County declined from 2,588 in July 2021 to 2,511 in August 2021, a decrease of 77 residents.
Original source can be found here.
