FYI Miami: September 26, 2024

Below are some of the FYIs in this week’s edition. The entire content of this week’s FYIs and Insider sections is available by subscription only. To subscribe click here.

UNEMPLOYMENT LEVELS OFF: Miami-Dade County’s unemployment leveled off in August at 3.1%, the same as in July, after monthly increases every month since January, according to figures released last week by the US Burau of Labor Statistics. The county’s jobless percentage is below Florida’s overall 3.3% rate, a percentage that has now been unchanged for five months. Miami-Dade’s number of unemployed did grow by 1,200 persons from July to 44,000, but that came in tandem with the growth of both the total labor force in the county and total employment. The county’s labor force grew from July to August by 5,500 persons to reach a total of 1,402,400 in the workforce. The number of people employed during the month grew by 4,200 to 1,358,400. 

CONSTRUCTION JOBS BUILD UP: Miami-Dade County’s number of people at work in the construction industry continues to set records, reaching 63,500 jobs in August, the most ever in the industry. That’s up 2,200 jobs from July and an 11.4% increase over the past 12 months. Also in August, the county’s number of leisure and hospitality workers rose to 153,900, a jobs gain of 5.8% for the year. Government jobs increased in the county by 10,200 workers from July to August, but that is a seasonal change that occurs annually as teachers return to the schools. The total government jobs growth in August from August 2023 was 1.7%.  

30X30 VISION COUNCIL GROWS TO 31: Before a 30-member visioning council geared to envision Miami-Dade County’s direction for the next 30 years could even get started, Miami-Dade commissioners last week voted to take the cap off membership numbers of the 30X30 Vision Council to add a 31st member focused on matters of importance to faith-based, religious, or spiritual communities. In a separate ordinance, commissioners added staff and support services to the vision council as among responsibilities of the county’s budget office and the commission’s auditor and to amend the offices’ work plans to include those responsibilities.

MINIMUM WAGE RISING: Florida’s minimum wage will increase to $13 an hour Monday as the state continues carrying out a constitutional amendment that eventually will lead to a $15 minimum wage. Voters in 2020 approved the constitutional amendment. The minimum wage went to $10 an hour on Sept. 30, 2021, $11 on Sept. 30, 2022, and $12 an hour on Sept. 30, 2023. It is required to increase by $1 each year until it hits $15 an hour on Sept. 30, 2026. After that, it will increase based on inflation. The minimum wage for tipped employees will go to $9.98 an hour Monday, an increase of $1. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.