Leon County unemployment rate statistics for December 2014, released Jan. 23, showed an overall decrease in unemployment since November.
The unemployment rate in Leon County is 4.7 percent, which is 0.4 percentage points lower than the November 2014 rate.
Stacy Sheffield, an economics professor at Tallahassee Community College, said this report brings more opportunities to college students.
“Today most college students suffer from high unemployment rates, lower-quality jobs, and few opportunities for advancement in their area,” Sheffield said.“Tallahassee’s newly thriving economic state is a blessing for our students. This means students have more opportunities and outlets to help them find jobs,”
Whitley Waymon, a recent college graduate and job seeker said she is to hear about the recent decrease of unemployment in the Tallahassee area.
“I know how hard it is to find a job in Tallahassee, especially as an undergraduate,” Waymon said. “But even as recent college graduate I’m still having trouble finding a job. Hopefully, this unemployment decrease will increase my chances on finding employment in the area.”
The Economic Policy Institute found that student debt in America has ballooned to more than $1 trillion, and one in four student-loan borrowers is delinquent on their loans.
In addition, unemployment rates among young college students and graduates in their 20s, is 7.4 percent—twice the unemployment rate for college students and graduates in their 30s and early 40s, who experience an unemployment rate of 3.4 percent.
“The continued decrease seen in local unemployment numbers is a clear indication that employers are now hiring again and job seekers are gaining employment,” Sheffield said. “This information provides continued evidence that the state’s economy is recovering from the recession or nation suffered a few years ago.”
CareerSource Capital Region connects employers with job seekers, partnering with the local business community. Its services to job seekers include workshops and one-on-one career advising, providing access to job training.. All services are offered for free.
Keantha Moore, the director of operational excellence at CareerSource Capital Regional, said students should immediately capitalize on the unemployment rate dropping.
“College students and teenagers are a major age group affected by unemployment rates,” Moore said. “With Tallahassee’s unemployment rate slightly dropping students of every caliber should take advantage of this opportunity. Whether it be for a part time job or a full time job in their field.”