TALHASSEE – Florida’s unemployment rate rose slightly to 3.5% in January, but Gov. Ron DeSantis has touted workforce growth.
The state Department of Commerce issued a report on Monday saying its January percentage rose from 3.4% in December. This also increased from 3.2% in January 2024.
The number of people eligible for unemployed people has increased from 385,000 in December to 390,000 in January. This is an increase from 353,000 in January 2024.
Meanwhile, the 11.188 million workforce in January increased by 18,000 from December and 66,000 from January 2024.
All across Florida, Miami Fort’s Lauderdale West Palm Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area was 3.0% in January, with the Walton Beach Destin area at Orlando Kisim Mee Sanford and Crest Beau Fort Fort Fort Fort Fort Walton Beach Destin area at 3.6%, while the Taraface area was 3.7% and 3.6%.
Napoli Marco Island, Jacksonville, Tampast Petersburg – Clearwater area was 3.8%. Cape Coral Fort Myers, North Port Bradenton Sarasota, Palm Baittus Vill Melbourne, Panama City – Panama City Beach and the Pensacola Ferry Pass Brent area each had a 4% rate.
Meanwhile, the village area had the highest percentage at 6.9%, followed by 5.8% in the Homo Sassa Springs area and 5.6% in the Sebring area.
Desantis’ office has issued a release that says the expanded workforce has strengthened “the state’s economic strength.” “The national workforce has remained growing or stable over the last 10 months, highlighting Florida’s sustainable economic momentum,” he said.
“Florida continues to prove that leadership and conservative fiscal policy drive success,” Desantis said in a prepared statement. “We will continue to have momentum by insisting on reducing government spending, continuing to eliminate bureaucracy and finding a tax increase for Floridians.”
The national unemployment rate in February was 4.1%, up from 4% in January. Florida will announce prices for next February.
The Florida unemployment report comes three days after a panel of economists known as the Revenue Estimates Meeting released an updated forecast for the state’s general revenues on Monday. The forecast was higher than expected in the August forecast, but the panel warned of “weak” conditions and national economic variables, saying, “The forecast environment is much more stable in the short term than in the summer.
Monday’s report showed increased employment in categories such as education and health services, leisure and hospitality. Construction reduced the positions of 5,100.
Original issue: March 18, 2025, 10:54am Edit
