Florida unemployment rises again

TAMPA - Florida's unemployment rate has climbed to 10.6 percent, the highest since 1975. More than 970,000 Floridians are unemployed.

In the Bay area, the numbers are staggering. Pasco County is hurting the worst with 12.2 percent unemployment. It's followed by Manatee and Citrus Counties. Polk's unemployment rate is 11.5 percent, followed by Sarasota, Pinellas, and Hillsborough Counties at 10.7 percent.

And Florida has the dubious distinction of having an unemployment rate higher than the national rate of 9.5 percent.

The unemployment crisis is creating hardships for families. Like millions of Americans, Valarie Berry of Tampa is looking for a job. She stopped working in 2005 to stay home with her new baby. Berry's ready to go back, unfortunately at the worst time possible.

"I get up every morning, call the temp service. I call Kelly. I call Express Staffing. I call Next Day Staffing. I call A-1 Temp," Berry said.

Right now, she's looking for anything and trying to pay bills. She says the electric bill has gone up, so the family tries to do what it can to save. "We turn everything off. We unplug. We turn the circuit breaker off," said Berry.

Frederick White of Tampa is unemployed. He has a Master's degree in business, but still can't find a management position. He's been looking since January.

"It's been a very hard long road. We just have to stay persistent, stay focused, and just keep trying," said White. "At some point, I'm going to break through that glass ceiling."

Florida has lost more than 390,000 jobs over the past year. The downturn began with declines in construction jobs, but now it has spread to nearly every major industry.

Berry is not the only one in her household looking for work. Her partner Richard Burrows lost his truck driving job last week.

"I'm used to working. I've been working since I was 15, going to school and working. When I got out of school, I started driving trucks," Burrows said.

Burrows is beginning a new journey, one that will probably be a long road.

"I don't have the slightest idea to be honest. I don't know. I don't know," said Burrows.

Florida's unemployment rate is higher than the national rate of 9.5 percent.