In the most recent data released by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) on Friday, the May unemployment rate in Florida was 4.9%, up .1% from the unemployment rate in April.
Although the number of individuals who qualified for unemployment rose from 488,000 in April to 503,000 in May, the labor force increased by 72,000 people during the same time.
The number of nonagricultural jobs in May 2021 was 8,617,700, up 566,800 jobs from May 2020 that recorded an unemployment rate of 14.2%. From February to April 2020, Florida lost 1,269,200 jobs and has since gained 814,800 of those jobs back. Florida has experienced thirteen consecutive months of job growth. As of May’s report, nine out of the ten major industries in Florida experienced positive job growth over the past year.
As reported in the DEO release: “The industries gaining jobs over the year included leisure and hospitality (+234,800 jobs, +30.0 percent); trade, transportation, and utilities (+114,600 jobs, +6.9 percent); professional and business services (+94,600 jobs, +7.3 percent); education and health services (+58,400 jobs, +4.6 percent); other services (+36,600 jobs, +12.4 percent); financial activities (+23,700 jobs, +4.1 percent); construction (+16,500 jobs, +3.0 percent); manufacturing (+11,100 jobs, +3.0 percent); and information (+5,200 jobs, +4.1 percent). The lone major industry that experienced job loss over the year was total government who lost 28,200 jobs or -2.5%.”
The lowest unemployment rate in Florida belongs to Monroe County with 3.1%, followed by St. Johns County with 3.2%, and Wakulla County with 3.5%. The highest unemployment rate belongs to Miami-Dade County with 6.7%, then Hamilton and Osceola Counties with 6.6%, and Putnam County with 6.5%.
Even with the slight uptick in Florida’s overall unemployment rate, the rate in May is the tenth consecutive month that it was below the national unemployment rate, which currently sits at 5.8%.
According to the DEO, the .1% increase in unemployment rate “reflects an increase in both confidence regarding job availability and active job seekers rejoining the workforce.” As of May, there were 512,858 available job posts online across the state of Florida.
With the work search order being back in place as of May 29th, and federal unemployment aid being blocked on June 26th, effects of these actions may be reflected in the next report which is scheduled to be released on July 16th.
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Casey Owens is a contributing writer for The Florida Capital Star. Follow him on Twitter at @cowensreports. Email tips to [email protected].
