TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – One of the reasons behind the lower unemployment rate for the Gadsden, Leon and Wakulla county area is the diligence of the regional workforce expert, WORKFORCE plus. The WORKFORCE plus regional unemployment rate in December was 7.9%, lower than both the month-ago and year-ago numbers.

Gadsden County had the highest unemployment rate in the region at 9.9%, Leon’s unemployment rate lowered to 7.6% and Wakulla’s unemployment rate stood at 7.6%.  These rates improved over the year by 1.1%, 0.4%, and 0.7%, respectively.

In the state, unemployment fell slightly in December from the 9.8 November rate to 9.7% in December.  By comparison, unemployment was 8.2% nationwide for the month of November and 8.3% by the month of December.

The WORKFORCE plus region gained the most jobs in education and health services (700); leisure and hospitality (600); and government (300).

WORKFORCE plus is one of the many actors striving to equip employers with the talent they need and job seekers with the career opportunities they desire.

This past Thursday's fair, the WORKFORCE plus JOBS = PAYCHECKS NOW Job Fair & Career Expo hosted 1,182 job seekers, more than 95 hiring employers and boasted hundreds of available positions.

“As we saw at our JOBS = PAYCHECKS NOW Job Fair yesterday, there are many, many employers with fantastic career opportunities available,” Kimberly A. Moore, CEO of WORKFORCE plus said.  “And likewise, we hosted over one thousand qualified and determined individuals seeking employment who just need to be supported, encouraged and offered hope and this event does just that.”

 Employers from many industries also had many great takeaways from the WORKFORCE plus Job Fair.

“This was a great fair,” Gerrell Aldridge of New Hire Solutions said.  ”We’re taking away many great applications.”

“WORKFORCE plus is an awesome resource,” Leia White from Gadsden Correctional Facility said.

“This was one of the best employer opportunities events we have attended and participated in- in many years,” Zack Howard of Four Star Freightliners said.

For more information about unemployment rates at the national, state or regional level, or to learn more about other exciting unemployment-curbing opportunities available through WORKFORCE plus, visit www.wfplus.org or call 1-866-WFP-JOB1.

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