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Fla's Jobless Rate Dips Below National Average

TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/AP) - Florida's unemployment dipped below the national average in January to its lowest level in four years.

The state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 7.8 percent hasn't been that low since November 2008. It's also the first time that Florida's jobless rate was below the national rate in five years. The national unemployment figure for January stood at 7.9 percent.

Florida's January rate was down slightly from December's revised rate of 7.9 percent. The Department of Economic Opportunity reported Monday that 740,000 Floridians remained jobless.

The trade, transportation and utility industries gaining the most jobs in Florida — some 35,500 — over the past 12 months.

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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