Palm Coast-Flagler Regional Chamber of Commerce issued the following announcement on October 22.
Flagler County has officially recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic, at least from a job’s perspective. According to today’s data release from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity:
- Flagler County created 304 jobs in September 2021,
- Flagler County’s unemployment rate declined to 4.4%, the lowest since February 2020,
- 326 fewer Flagler County residents are receiving unemployment benefits, and
- Flagler County’s labor force remained flat, losing just 22 residents in September 2021.
Greg Blosé, President & CEO of the Palm Coast-Flagler Regional Chamber of Commerce said, “Flagler County finally has more jobs today than February 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic began. This means Flagler has recovered the jobs lost due to the global pandemic. The 4.4% unemployment rate is the lowest since before the pandemic (Feb 2020, 4.5%). It’s a good day for Flagler County.”
Flagler County employment grew from 46,349 in August 2021 to 46,653 in September 2021, an increase of 304 jobs. Meanwhile, the labor force remained flat, with 48,845 in August 2021 to 48,823 in September 2021, a decrease of 22 Flagler County residents. The number of unemployed residents in Flagler County declined from 2,496 in August 2021 to 2,170 in September 2021, a decrease of 326 residents.
“From a job loss perspective, Flagler County has suffered for a year-and-a-half and was one of the bottom 1/3 of all Florida counties recovering jobs lost due to the pandemic. Now that we are finally ‘even,’ the Chamber is doubling down on helping employers grow jobs and strengthen their business,” Blosé, said.
Recently, the Chamber announced an expanded partnership with CareerSource Flagler-Volusia to provide a 3-phase small business program available to Flagler County businesses at no-cost. The recently announced first phase will provide scholarships for 10 small business leaders to engage in an one-year business coaching program lead by the Coastal Entrepreneur and Innovation Institute.
For more information, contact Greg Blosé, President and CEO of the Palm Coast-Flagler Regional Chamber, at 386-846-1864 or via email at Greg@PalmCoastFlaglerRegionalChamber.com.
Original source can be found here.
