Even though unemployment numbers were slightly up in Southwest Florida in November, there are many more people working compared to the month last year. The number jumped from 3.2 to 3.4 in the Manatee-Sarasota area, that according to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. In November of 2016, the number was 4.5 percent. Manatee-Sarasota are below the state and national averages as well and added roughly 12 thousand jobs. Charlotte County bumped slightly higher from 3.8 to four percent.
