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<br />The largest employer in Miami-Dade County is the Miami-Dade County School Board, followed by <br />Metro-Dade County, Federal Government, State of Florida, American Airlines, University of Miami, <br />Jackson Memorial Hospital, Baptist Health Systems of South Florida, Bell South, and Florida Power <br />and Light. Assuming additional importance is the growing prominence of Miami-Dade County as <br />a center for intemational trade, finance and tourism. The establishment of Miami as the "Gateway <br />of the Americas" should provide the area with a much needed degree of economic diversification. <br />This should enable Miami-Dade County to weather slowdowns in the national economy by an <br />increase of trade through the Port of Miami, growth of international arrivals at the airport, the Free <br />Trade Zone, and the substantial foreign investment in the local economy, particularly in real estate. <br /> <br />Prior to September 11,200 I, Florida's unemployment rate was 4.3 percent, up from 3.6 percent of <br />the previous year, but still below the national average of 4.9 percent. In August of 200 I, the <br />unemployment rate for Miami-Dade County was 6.0 percent. Miami-Dade's jobless rate for <br />November 200 I rose to 7.8 percent while Florida's unemployment rate rose to 5.0 percent. The <br />September I I, 200 I event had a greater impact on tourism in Miami than the rest of the state. <br />Miami-Dade County's jobless rate fell slightly to 7.6 percent in December of 2001 but as of <br />December 2003 was 7.7%. The tourism season, now in full swing, could provide a welcome respite. <br /> <br />Income <br /> <br />Over the past few years, the average per capita personal income in Miami-Dade County has been <br />slightly lower than the per capita income for Florida, as well as the nation. <br /> <br />TABLE 2 <br /> <br />PER CAPITA PERSONAL INCOME <br />SELECTED YEARS (CURRENT $) <br /> <br />Year 1998 1999 2000 2001 <br />UNITED STATES 27,321 28,546 29,338 30,413 <br />FLORIDA 26,931 27,781 28,913 29,048 <br />MIAMI MSA 23,972 24,733 25,652 26,594 <br /> <br />Source: U.S. Dcp!. of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis and Miami-Dade County Planning Department <br /> <br />Tourism <br /> <br />Table 3 reveals a steady increase in the number of tourists visiting Miami-Dade County since 1990. <br />The number ofintemational visitors increased approximately 100% from 1985 to 1995. Due to the <br />soft domestic economy, the number of domestic visitors had declined from 1989 to 1993; however, <br />from 1995 to 2000 there has been a 1.5% average annual increase. <br /> <br />QUINLIVAN APPRAISAL <br /> <br />11 <br />