TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida has posted its lowest weekly total of first-time unemployment claims since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, despite mounting issues confronting the travel industry.
The U.S. Department of Labor on Thursday estimated 17,621 first-time jobless claims were filed in Florida during the week that ended Feb. 6, down from 69,140 the prior week.
The latest figure is the lowest since March, when massive job losses began as the COVID-19 pandemic hammered the state.
But the nearly 75 percent drop in week-to-week unemployment claims came as American Airlines announced plans to furlough more than 1,000 workers in Miami and as the White House reportedly is considering new travel restrictions focused on areas affected…