August 21, 2025

Florida’s Unemployment Rate Remains Steady at 3.7%

News Summary

Florida’s unemployment rate held steady at 3.7% in July, with an increase of 2,000 unemployed residents. The labor force slightly grew, but year-over-year comparisons showed an uptick from 3.4% in July of the previous year. Positive job additions were seen in the private sector, but some sectors like construction faced challenges. Regional disparities in unemployment rates were notable, with Miami recording the lowest rates while areas like the Villages had the highest. Overall, the dynamic labor market reveals mixed trends across sectors and regions.

Florida’s Unemployment Rate Holds Steady at 3.7% in July 2025 Amid Varied Regional Trends

Florida’s unemployment rate remained at 3.7% in July 2025, marking the fourth consecutive month at this level. The number of unemployed individuals rose by 2,000 from June, totaling 417,000 across the state. The labor force also witnessed a slight increase, growing by 3,000 to reach approximately 11.196 million participants.

In contrast to previous years, the unemployment rate has seen an uptick from 3.4% in July 2024. The total number of unemployed individuals has increased by 35,000 year-over-year, while the labor force has expanded by 25,000 people since last July. Nationally, the unemployment rate stood at 4.2% in July, up from 4.1% in June.

Sector Performance and Job Creation

In July, Florida’s private-sector employment experienced a positive shift, adding 5,700 jobs after a significant loss of 21,000 jobs in the previous month. The financial activities sector was a notable contributor, adding 5,200 jobs. The leisure and hospitality sector saw a modest uptick of 1,600 jobs, reflecting sustained demand in this area.

Despite these gains, other sectors faced challenges. The construction sector reported a decline of 1,000 jobs, following a loss of 1,600 jobs in June. According to state workforce statistics, there remains a high demand for workers, with overall job openings rising compared to the previous year, indicating a competitive job market.

Regional Unemployment Rates Across Florida

Unemployment rates varied significantly across different regions in Florida. The Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach area recorded the lowest unemployment rate at 3.4%, although this was an increase from 3.2% in June. Notably, the Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall area had the overall lowest jobless rate in the state at 2.8%.

Other regions reported varied rates, including the Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin and Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford areas, both at 3.9%. Unemployment rates climbed to 4.1% in the Panama City-Panama City Beach and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater areas, while Jacksonville reported a rate of 4.2%.

Conversely, some areas faced higher unemployment, such as the Naples-Marco Island and Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville regions, which both reported 4.3% rates. The Cape Coral-Fort Myers area reached a 4.5% unemployment rate, with the highest challenging rate observed in the Villages and Wildwood areas at 7.1%.

Detailed Look at Volusia and Flagler Counties

Volusia County saw its unemployment rate increase to 4.7%, the highest figure since August 2021, despite a boost in local employment. The county’s labor force comprises 269,780 residents. Flagler County also reported a rise in unemployment to 5%, the highest level since August 2021, with a labor force of 56,024 residents. In Ormond Beach, unemployment slightly rose to 4.4%, up by 0.3% from June, but employment remained stable year-over-year.

Both counties have shown an increase in the number of employed residents while experiencing a rise in those actively seeking work, highlighting the dynamic nature of Florida’s labor market.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

HERE Resources

Leon County Faces Rising Unemployment Amid Funding Cuts
Leon County Faces Job Creation Challenges Despite Job Growth
Commissioner Jeremy Matlow Announces Mayoral Run in Tallahassee
Florida Repeals Business Rent Tax, Boosting Local Economy
Tallahassee Prepares for Severe Weather and Tornadoes
Severe Weather Alerts and Flood Watches Affect Florida
Tallahassee Sees New Townhome Community Development
Leon County Unemployment Rate Increases to 4.3%
Leon County Unemployment Rate Increases
Leon County Sees Surge in New Construction Permits

Additional Resources

Author: STAFF HERE TALLAHASSEE WRITER

The TALLAHASSEE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERETallahassee.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Tallahassee, Leon County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Springtime Tallahassee, Tallahassee Jazz & Blues Festival, and LeMoyne Chain of Parks Art Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce and United Way of the Big Bend, plus leading businesses in education, healthcare, and insurance that power the local economy such as Florida State University, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, and Capital Health Plan. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREOrlando.com, HEREStPetersburg.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.

ADD MORE INFORMATION OR CONTRIBUTE TO OUR ARTICLE CLICK HERE!

STAFF HERE TALLAHASSEE WRITER

Stay Connected

Would You Like To Add Your Business?

Submit