Ditchmen • NUCA of Florida October 2018 | Page 18

>> QUICK BITS WORKERS’ COMP RATE HEARING SCRAPPED BECAUSE OF STORM Pointing to a need to stay focused on the aftermath of Hurricane Michael, the state Office of Insurance Regulation has canceled a public hearing slated for Wednesday on a proposed reduction in workers’ compensation insurance rates. The office accepted written comments about the proposed 13.4 percent average rate decrease, which would take effect in January. JOB GROWTH HOLDS STEADY Unemployment Rate Dips….Florida’s unemployment rate reached its lowest mark since February 2007, falling 0.2 percentage points in September to 3.5 percent, according to numbers released Friday by the state Department of Economic Opportunity. The September estimate represents 358,000 Floridians considered out of work — 17,000. fewer than in August --- from a workforce of 10.2 million... 18 DITCHMEN • OCTOBER 2018