HispanicBusiness

Florida's unemployment rate dropped to 8.5 percent in October, the lowest rate since December 2008, as more people found jobs.

The state added 14,700 jobs in October, the Department of Economic Opportunity reported this morning, a continuation of a positive trend. For the past three months, the state has averaged 15,466 jobs created each month, a steady but not spectacular pace.

"My number one goal is to create jobs for Florida families and get this state back to work," Gov. Rick Scott said in a news release. "There is still more work that needs to be done, but I'm confident we're on the right path."

Nationally, the rate was 7.9 percent in October, and the state has fallen behind on the rate at which it was narrowing the gap. But economic signals on employment, consumer spending and business optimism have been more positive lately.

Palm Beach County saw unemployment fall 0.7 percentage points from the prior month to 8.6 percent, Martin dropped half a percent to 9 percent unemployment, and St. Lucie dropped nearly an entire percentage point to 10.9 percent. (from 11.8)

Those figures are not seasonally adjusted, so the steep drop is expected as the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast move into the winter season.