Florida businesses created 30,000 jobs in December and the state’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.7 percent according to the latest jobs report released Friday by the Governor’s Office.

“Our work to cut taxes, reduce regulation and encourage economic growth has sent a message across the country that Florida is where job creators and families should go to succeed,” Gov. Rick Scott said in a news release. “Florida had a great year of job creation in 2017 and we will fight each day to make sure our state remains the best place for new opportunities in 2018, and for years to come.”

The report shows 205,000 jobs were created in all of 2017 and, since Scott took office seven years ago, a total of just over 1,497,000 new position have been added to Florida’s economy.

“Florida businesses had strong job growth in 2017, creating nearly 205,000 jobs for families throughout the state,” said Cissy Proctor, executive director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. “It is important to continue to support Governor Scott’s pro-business priorities to ensure our state stays competitive and recruits new businesses.”

The state’s unemployment rate fell to 3.7 percent in December — which represents a drop of seven percentage points since December 2010.

The Orlando area added the highest number of new jobs in Florida for the fifth month in a row. More than 46,300 new private-sector jobs were created in that market in the last year. The unemployment rate in Orlando was 3.3 percent, down 1.0 percentage point from one year ago.

The Miami area ranked second in the state for private-sector job growth in 2017 with 32,600 new jobs. Tampa ranked third in the state with 28,000 new positions created last year.

The jobs report shows that private-sector industries gaining the most jobs statewide over-the-year were:

• Professional and business services with 47,200 new jobs;
• Construction with 43,900 new jobs;
• Trade, transportation and utilities with 33,600 new jobs;
• Education and health services with 22,300 new jobs; and
• Manufacturing with 16,200 new jobs.

To view the December 2017 employment data, click here.