Florida Unemployment Rate Drops To 3.2 Percent

ACROSS FLORIDA — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Florida’s unemployment rate has dropped to 3.2 percent, attributing the change to the 215,000 private-sector jobs created in the state over the past year.

“I can’t say it enough: Florida’s business-friendly environment continues to attract investment and growth,” said DeSantis. “Prioritizing investments in innovation and talent development while keeping taxes low will continue to advance and diversify Florida’s economy.”

In the last two months, DeSantis has announced plans to strengthen Florida’s electric vehicle infrastructure, proposed legislation to assist in the development of FinTech training programs and provided incentives for local workforce development boards to help Florida’s veterans find meaningful employment.

Additionally, the Florida Talent Development Council held its first meeting this month to lay the groundwork for the strategic plan that will ensure 60 percent of working-age Floridians hold a high-value post-secondary credential by 2030.

Positive economic indicators for the month of September include:

• Florida’s annual private-sector job growth rate of 2.8 percent continues to outpace the national job growth rate of 1.6 percent.
• The labor force continued to grow with 154,000 entering the labor force over the year at an annual growth rate of 1.5 percent.
• Florida job postings showed 277,495 openings in September 2019

Private-sector industries gaining the most jobs over-the-year were:

• Education and health services with 59,600 new jobs;
• Professional and business services with 49,200 new jobs;
• Leisure and hospitality with 30,300 new jobs;
• Trade, transportation and utilities with 20,400 new jobs;
• Financial activities with 19,100 new jobs; and
• Construction with 16,200 new jobs.