Florida Marks 2009 Labor Day with Highest Unemployment in 30 Years

AIF: A New Energy Sector May Be Key to Putting Floridians to Work
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.--(Business Wire)--
Associated Industries of Florida today endorsed the idea of revisiting Florida`s
longstanding ban on offshore oil exploration in a special legislative session
this fall, calling it an "urgent imperative" to create employment opportunities
for the one in 10 Floridians who are out of work.

"There is no better way to recognize, honor and support Florida`s workforce than
for our leaders to create employment opportunities for nearly 1 million
Floridians who are currently out of work," said AIF President and CEO Barney
Bishop. "Energy production would put tens of thousands of Floridians to work."

Earlier this week, Gov. Charlie Crist indicated he may favor asking the
Legislature to take up energy exploration in a special session this fall, an
idea Bishop endorsed. Bishop said the issue "demands the kind of focus it would
receive in a special session."

Bishop pointed to a recent analysis by Florida economists Fishkind & Associates
projecting that even at the lowest projection of Florida`s offshore energy
reserves, a new energy sector could create more than 40,000 jobs. At the higher
end of Fishkind`s estimates, creating a Florida-based energy sector would create
231,000 new Florida jobs.

On Wednesday, London-based BP announced that it made a "giant" oil discovery in
the Gulf of Mexico. While that discovery occurred in deep, federal waters, the
greatest economic potential for Florida exists closer to shore, in the Gulf
waters up to 10.3 miles off the Florida coast, which Florida owns. In those
waters, the State would reap all the revenues from oil and natural gas
discoveries.

Florida`s economic trials received national media focus this week, including
articles in the New York Times and USA Today documenting Florida`s record levels
of foreclosures, unemployment and a first-ever population decline.

"Item No. 1 on Florida`s agenda for the future must be a new energy sector that
generates high wage jobs, boosts our economy and moves the country toward energy
independence while contributing to Florida`s budget needs," Bishop said. "It`s
time to rebuild Florida`s economy."

For Associated Industries of Florida
Ryan Banfill, 850-222-1996

Copyright Business Wire 2009