FYI Miami: August 28, 2025

LARGEST LABOR FORCE: Miami-Dade County’s civilian labor force has reached its highest number of workers ever, surpassing the former high set in May 2024, new figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reveal. The county’s labor force totaled 1,455,563 workers in July, the bureau’s figures show, surpassing by 16,005 persons the number the bureau recorded in June. The July figure is 3,469 workers more than in May 2024. Of the July workforce, 40,297 people or 2.8% were unemployed, the bureau’s figures show. In May 2024 the county’s unemployment figure was 2.3%. 

JOBLESS CLAIMS FALL: The US Department of Labor estimated 5,941 initial unemployment claims were filed the week ended Aug. 16 in Florida, down from 6,448 the week that ended Aug. 9. Since the start of April, the state has averaged 6,621 first-time claims a week. Florida has had a 3.7% unemployment rate for the past four months. The national unemployment rate in July was 4.2%. 

AVIATION COLLEGE EXPANDS: An extension of the George T. Baker Aviation Technical College has opened at Sunset Senior High School, where two classrooms and a shop have been retrofitted for aviation students and an airplane engine has been brought in for mechanical practice. The aviation mechanics program covers aircraft systems, maintenance procedures, regulatory compliance, and hands-on training with the latest equipment. “This expansion allows us to not only increase our capacity to train more aspiring aviation mechanics but also to offer a dedicated space that simulates real-world industry environments,” said Rene Mantilla, assistant superintendent for postsecondary career and technical education. “Said Principal Rudy Rodriguez, “immediately they come out of here when they’re a senior and they are certified to become an aviation mechanic, and they can start making a lot of money right away.” 

EVERGLADES BATTLE: Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration Tuesday asked a federal appeals court to put on hold a judge’s ruling that required winding down operations of the Everglades immigrant-detention facility dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, which has been used for flight training. The site is in Miami-Dade and Collier counties and had been run by the Miami-Dade Aviation Department before the state seized it. The state is seeking a stay of a preliminary injunction issued last week by US District Judge Kathleen Williams in a lawsuit filed by environmental groups and joined by the Miccosukee Tribe. A stay would put the preliminary injunction on hold while an underlying appeal of Judge Williams’ decision plays out.

These are some of the FYIs in this week’s edition. The entire content of this week’s FYIs and Insider sections is available by subscription only. To subscribe click here.

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