Flagler County, Florida Unemployment Rate Defies CNN Forecast

In 2007 CNN reported that Flagler County was ranked third best city for job growth. The reasoning behind such a bold forecast was that the city had "attracted several big-box stores and a retail shopping center." Unfortunately those economic forecasts failed to consider some very important variables affecting job availability for the future. In 2006, Flagler County was awarded the esteem of being the fastest growing county in the nation (53% population increase in 5 years, according to CNN). In 2007, the county was hungry for jobs, and the opening of a few retail stores would hardly satiate that kind of digestive grumble. In 2008, Flagler County boasted the highest unemployment rate in the state. In 2009, unemployment flirted with double digits, then in 2010, it hit 16.9%.

The current unemployment rate is affecting social service agencies as they struggle to assist families with incomes primarily from the retail and service industry along with the onslaught of newly out-of-business or out-of-work contractors, real estate agents, construction workers, and other normally financially sound folks who are now coping with a sudden loss of income.

While Flagler families struggle to find employment, community leaders despair over the numbers. Heather Beaven, who is running for the district 7 congressional seat, has a campaign staffer who sent an "impassioned" email to subscribers with a subject line that read, "We're #1. WTF?" In the body of the email, the staffer, expounded, "Unfortunately, Flagler County has the highest unemployment rate of any county in Florida. This begs the question: what the hell is Mica up to in Washington?"

It was not long before Ms. Beaven sent an apologetic response to what some have deemed an offensive subject line by saying, "an impassioned staffer reacted too quickly to the horrific unemployment situation in Florida." She did go on to explain that he tendered his resignation, but that she refused it because she believes in him.

The employment situation in Flagler is a prominent point of both emotional outpour and public concern. Perhaps the unemployment rate can be alluded to the influx of people from other recession-touched states who had heard that the area was a good place for job growth. Maybe the service and retail industry has overburdened the population who seeks more professional opportunities. Whatever the case, the county once touted as one of the "best cities for job growth," is just that. It can certainly use some job growth.