Citrus County's unemployment rate for August remained unchanged from July's rate of 11.8 percent.

According to the Agency for Workforce Innovation, which released the report on Aug. 16, the county's unemployment rate in August of 2010 was much higher - at 13.1 percent.

Levy County's August unemployment was reported lower - 11.3 percent, compared to an unemployment rate of 11.6 during July. In Hernando County, unemployment rose in August to 13.9 percent from 13.6 percent during July. Marion County's August unemployment rate was reported as 12.7 percent during August, compared to 12.8 percent during July.

Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in August 2011 is 10.7 percent. This represents 987,000 jobless out of a labor force of 9,201,000. The state’s unemployment rate is unchanged from July and is 0.9 percentage point lower than the August 2010 rate of 11.6 percent. The U.S. unemployment rate is 9.1 percent in August.

Florida’s seasonally adjusted total nonagricultural employment in August 2011 is 7,233,100, an increase of 9,900 jobs (+0.1 percent) from July 2011. From January to August 2011, Florida has gained 71,600 jobs.

"An increase of nearly 10,000 jobs since last month is another positive indication that Florida’s employers are gaining confidence, people are getting back to work, and our state is making progress under Governor Scott’s leadership," said AWI Director Cynthia R. Lorenzo. "With the launch next month of the Department of Economic Opportunity, we are taking a bold step to position Florida as the number one state in the nation to do business and create jobs."

The Department of Economic Opportunity was created during the 2011 Legislative Session in response to Gov. Rick Scott’s priority of establishing a more unified approach and rapid response to job creation through the consolidation of the state’s economic development functions. Encompassing responsibilities overseen by AWI, the Department of Community Affairs and the Governor’s Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development, the department becomes operational on Oct. 1.