Unemployment

The report comes after Department of Economic Opportunity Executive Director Dane Eagle said retaining the current system is “not an option.”

The head of the unemployment agency said retaining the current system, which was overwhelmed at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, is "not an option."

TALLAHASSEE --- Florida has posted its lowest weekly total of first-time unemployment claims since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, despite mounting issues confronting the travel industry. The U.S. Department of Labor on Thursday estimated 17,621 first-time jobless claims were filed in Florida during the week that ended Feb. 6, down from 69,140 the prior week.

A top Florida economist told lawmakers Thursday that financial problems could linger for a couple of years because of the resurging coronavirus pandemic, as first-time unemployment claims tripled in the first full week of 2021.

Extended unemployment benefits included in the latest federal stimulus package are starting to become available for Floridians out of work because of the coronavirus pandemic, the state Department of Economic Opportunity said Monday.

The U.S. Department of Labor on Thursday estimated 21,780 new unemployment applications were filed in Florida during the week that ended Dec. 12, down 25 percent from a revised projection for the previous week.

State health officials reported 7,711 new COVID-19 cases, Monday, for a total of 1,065,785 cases.The Florida Department of Health also reported 106 new coronavirus-related deaths, yesterday, increasing the statewide death toll to 19,529 fatalities since the start of the pandemic.

State health officials reported 6,658 new COVID-19 cases, Monday, for a total of 999,319 cases.The Florida Department of Health also reported 97 new coronavirus-related deaths, Nov. 30, increasing the statewide death toll to 18,834 fatalities since the start of the pandemic.The latest single-day positivity rate reported by the Florida Division of Emergency Management increased to 10.06% on Saturday.

State health officials reported 6,331 COVID-19 cases, Wednesday, for a total of 944,745 cases. The Florida Department of Health also reported 94 new coronavirus-related deaths, Nov. 23, increasing the statewide death toll to 18,310 fatalities.Over the past seven days, the single-day average number of new infections reported has increased to 7,529 cases. The average number of daily deaths reported over the past week has increased to nearly 72 fatalities a day.

First-time unemployment claims dropped more than 30 percent last week in Florida, as the state approaches a holiday period that is anticipated to have slow retail sales and reduced travel because of the COVID-19 pandemic.