As Construction Jobs Climb, so Do Workplace Accidents

Speculation that Florida’s rising number of petitions for benefits might be caused in part by a booming construction industry could have some merit, experts say. Nearly a half million Floridians work in construction, a 7% increase in May 2016 over the previous year, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said. Every day, 1,000 people move to Florida from other states, said Jerry Parrish, chief economist of the Florida Chamber of Commerce. Last year, Florida passed New York in population and, at 19.9 million, is the country’s third-most-populous state, behind California and Texas. P...