Florida labor officials release Sept. unemployment

TALLAHASSEE - For the final time before the Nov. 6 general election, states are releasing unemployment numbers, and Florida is among those hoping to see improvement in the September figures.

The state Department of Economic Opportunity reported Florida's unemployment has stood at 8.8 percent in both July and August. The state's jobless rate was seven-tenths of a percentage point higher than the national average of 8.1 percent.

Unemployment and job creation are not only part of the political debate between Democratic President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney, but the centerpiece of Florida Gov. Rick Scott's administration and future political ambitions. The first-term Republican governor came into office on a pledge of creating 700,000 new jobs.

Romney, meanwhile, has promised he'd create 12 million jobs during his first term if elected.