Florida Jobless Rate Holds at 3.6 Percent

By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida

TALLAHASSEE — Florida’s jobless rate held steady in March.

The Florida Department of Commerce on Friday released a report that said the state had a 3.6 percent unemployment rate in March, the same as in February. Florida had an estimated 403,000 people who qualified as out of work in March, 5,000 more than a month earlier. Meanwhile, the labor force of about 11.2 million grew by 1,000 in the same time.

The state jobless rate was 3.2 percent in March 2024. Meanwhile, the national rate last month was 4.2 percent, up from 4.1 percent in February and 3.9 percent in March 2024.

Jimmy Heckman, the Department of Commerce’s chief of workforce statistics and economic research, on Friday pointed to the availability of jobs for helping keep the state’s rate below the national mark.

“There are 506,000 job openings. That’s about 1.25 job openings per unemployed job seeker in the state,” Heckman said. “So, there’s plenty of demand for workers.”

Heckman also said there has not been a “noticeable” impact on Florida’s employment figures from the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency efforts, which have cut federal jobs and spending.

The state report lists broad categories of employment sectors and sub-categories. Employment in the broad category of leisure and hospitality dipped by 900 jobs in March, while a sub-category of accommodation and food services dropped 2,100 jobs after also shedding 5,600 positions in February, according to Department of Commerce figures.

Employment in the broad category of construction decreased by 1,400 jobs in March.

Most other sectors showed upticks during the month. The broad category of education and health services increased by 5,600 jobs, including a sub-category of health care and social assistance gaining 4,800 positions. The manufacturing category increased by 1,900.

Education and health jobs paced the state from March 2024 to last month, increasing by 42,000 positions, followed by jobs in the broad category of trade, transportation and utilities, up 24,600.

Local, state and federal government jobs increased by 21,400 over the year, while construction increased by 11,400 positions.

Across Florida, the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metropolitan statistical area had the lowest unemployment rate last month at 3.1 percent. The Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin region was at 3.3 percent, followed by the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford area at 3.4 percent.

The Naples-Marco Island, Panama City-Panama City Beach and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater regions were each at 3.5 percent.

The Jacksonville area was at 3.6 percent. The Tallahassee, Cape-Coral-Fort Myers, Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent and North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota areas were at 3.7 percent. The Port St. Lucie area was at 3.9 percent.

The Villages and Wildwood area had the state’s highest rate at 5.8 percent, followed by the Homosassa Springs area at 5.1 percent and the Sebring area at 4.9 percent.

The statewide rate is seasonally adjusted, while the metro rates are not adjusted.