So What is Going On With This Economy Locally?

Ahead of my 69th Coffee with the Commissioner event Tomorrow Morning, I have been researching issues related to the economy which I'll be discussing with my guest Todd Thomson, President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce.

One of the issues I will discuss with him is the labor participation rate and how it is impacting the workforce locally.

In Thomson's op-ed from a few weeks back, he brings this issue up as a problem for local businesses:  they can't find employees to fill the positions they have for their business operations locally.

But why?  That's the million dollar question.

According to Jeff Dyer, workforce development specialist with Florida West, with whom I have been speaking on this topic, the total labor force is actually at an all-time high with 147,000 citizens employed in Escambia County currently.

And, according to Dyer, the participation rate is actually up to around 61% locally--a figure that has remained relatively constant over the last 10 years--with the exception of 2020 when the pandemic first hit and the resultant recession spiked unemployement to 12% locally and created a dip in participation down to 58.83%.

These numbers mirror what is happening nationally, according to the labor participation rate chart on the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics website.

So with unemployment locally hovering at about 3.7%, with 147,000 citizens working, and only about 5,500 citizens unemployed and actively seeking work-----why are so many jobs---especially the jobs that require very little skill---going unfilled locally?

I mean, even with 147,000 working--many (tens of thousands) of those citizens are commuters from Santa Rosa and Baldwin Counties.  Okaloosa probably as well.  So with a population of 320,000---how many Escambians are not working "by choice?"

Are federal entitlement policies that paid/are paying folks to not work hurting our employers locally?

These are  the questions I want to ask Todd Thomson tomorrow and are among several I will throw his way.

What is going on with this economy locally--and why are so many NOT re-entering the workforce?

Why is the State of Florida's Unemployment System STILL so Badly Broken?

Although the CARES act provided generous levels of financial compensation for Floridians, and the money has been released to Florida----too many Floridians have yet to see one dime of unemployment compensation.....Why?

We have all heard the horror stories about out-of-work Floridians trying desperately to navigate the state of Florida's badly broken unemployment system to access unemployment benefits.

Some people get their money---but a lot of people don't.  Through no fault of their own.
My own son was out of work for three months.  Thankfully, he is back to work and back at school.  Luckily, he had a place to stay and his essentials were covered--but he was out of work for more than three months!!  I know he completed all the required application forms--I helped him do it.  He never got one penny in unemployment.

And a lot of Floridians did not receive money while they were out of work--and  don't have any fallback position and/or parents who can help them through the shortfalls--they are desperate.

"I had to go to work doing landscape work--I couldn't get a dime in the unemployment I was owed" said the waiter at a restaurant where I dined recently.  "We were shut down, told to go home, and I had no income and yet I still had bills to pay!" he continued.  "I claim my tips, so with the Federal money they were supposed to send me I should be getting $4,000.00 dollars for my time out of a job--but I haven't received anything.  I go online and it just says 'pending'" he mused."

And then this morning I get this email from a young constituent:

"Good morning, 

My name is XXXXXX  XXXXXXXX. I have been laid off since March 26th 2020. I have yet to receive any help from the state and it says I’m approved and everything. I have used up all my savings, withdrew my 401k, and now I have 3 negative bank accounts accumulating over draft fees. I need help haven’t even paid rent this month. I’m not sure how some families are even still in their home or feeding them or their kids. 

Anything you can do to get us the back pay money would be so grateful! 

Thanks!

XXXXXXX  X."

What will it take to fix this busted system to get ALL FLORIDIANS the HELP they NEED?