Fla. unemployment jumps to 8.6 percent in Jan.

"Florida's unemployment rate jumped a full percentage point in January from the month before to 8.6 percent, with 800,000 workers out of a job, state officials said Friday."

"It's the highest the state's seasonally adjusted, nonagricultural jobless rate has been in more than 16 years - since September 1992, when it hit 8.9 percent."

"Florida's January rate also was a full percentage point above the 7.6 percent national figure for that month."

"That's due largely to Florida's heavy reliance on construction and the continued decline in the housing market, said officials with the Agency for Workforce Innovation."

"Gov. Charlie Crist already has signed an agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor to increase weekly unemployment benefits by $25. That increase went into effect Feb. 22. Unemployed workers should start getting the extra dollars by the end of March."

"Crist also has recommended to the Legislature that about $81 million in stimulus be spent this budget year, which runs through June 30, and nearly $77.8 million in the next one to match job seekers with businesses and train workers."

"The governor also has proposed using $32 million in stimulus over the next two years to improve and expand the agency so it can better handle the crush of unemployed workers seeking compensation and job-finding assistance."