The unemployment rate for both Tampa Bay and Florida fell to 9.4 percent in February, the lowest level in three years.
That's down from 9.6 percent for all of Florida in January.
The good news for Tampa Bay: our region is creating more jobs than other regions of Florida -- up 20,000 in the last year, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
Hillsborough and Pinellas counties have even lower unemployment rates, a 9 percent.
Sarasota and Manatee counties each have a 9.2 percent unemployment rate. But Pasco, Hernando and other surrounding counties are still much higher.
"Florida's drop in its unemployment rate and increase in private sector job creation continues to prove our state is definitely headed in the right direction," Gov. Rick Scott said.
Florida's rate is still more than a percent higher than the national rate of 8.3 percent.
