Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties all exceed the state rate

Local unemployment rate climbed last month, exceeding the state number, according to a report released today the Agency for Workforce Innovation.

In Lee County, May’s rate was 7.1 percent compared with 6.5 percent in April and 3.9 percent a year ago. Number-wise, there were 20,152 people in the county without jobs.

Collier County’s jobless rate was 5.7 percent in May compared with 4.9 percent the month before and 3.4 percent in May 2007. In all, 8,622 were out of work last month.

And in Charlotte County, the unemployment rate was 7.4 percent -- tying it for the fourth highest in the state with Hernando County -- up from 6.9 percent in April and 4.5 percent in May of last year. A total of 5,050 were out of work.

Florida’s jobless rate was 5.5 percent, which matches the national average, up from 5 percent in April and 3.9 percent a year ago.

The increase was blamed, in part, on the declining housing market.