Florida’s Unemployment Rate Sees Increase Amid Job Growth

Illustration of Florida's job market with workers in education, health services, and urban life.

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News Summary

The unemployment rate in Florida rose to 3.7%, marking the third increase this year, with 410,000 individuals out of work. Despite this, the labor force grew, showing job creation in sectors like education and health services, while manufacturing faced declines. Florida’s jobless rate remains below the national average, but regional disparities exist, with some areas experiencing higher unemployment rates.

Florida – The unemployment rate in Florida rose to 3.7% in April 2025, reflecting the third increase this year and demonstrating signs of a slowdown in the state’s labor market. Approximately 410,000 individuals were without jobs out of a labor force that stands at 11.203 million.

This rise in unemployment comes after rates of 3.6% in both February and March 2025 and an even lower 3.5% in January. A year ago, in April 2024, the unemployment rate was recorded at 3.3%. Over the month of April, the number of unemployed increased by 7,000 people and is 46,000 higher than the same period last year.

Despite this upward trend in unemployment, Florida’s overall labor force grew by 5,000 in April 2025, increasing by 57,000 compared to the previous year. Analysts indicated that, while the rise in unemployment is evident, it is described as a stable trend rather than an alarming escalation. Florida’s unemployment rate remains lower than the national average of 4.2%, which has also seen an increase from 3.9% a year ago.

In terms of job creation, April saw positive growth in certain sectors. The education and health services sector alone added 8,000 jobs compared to the previous month, with health care and social assistance contributing significantly to this figure at 7,700 jobs. The professional and business services sector experienced an increase of 7,400 jobs while the leisure and hospitality industry added 3,800 jobs. Specifically, accommodation and food services saw a rise of 5,200 jobs due to late seasonal hiring.

On the downside, the manufacturing sector reported a decrease of 2,000 jobs, underscoring variability in the job market. Among the metropolitan areas in Florida, the greatest employment stability was found in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach where the unemployment rate reported was 3.0%, slightly down from 3.1% the previous month. The Miami-Miami-Beach-Kendall area boasted the lowest rate recorded at 2.7%.

Regions such as Crestview-Fort-Walton Beach-Destin and Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford both recorded an unemployment rate of 3.3%, while a larger number of regions, including Jacksonville, Naples-Marco Island, Panama City-Panama City Beach, Tallahassee, and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater reported a steady rate of 3.5%. The rate hit 3.7% in areas such as North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota and Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent. Conversely, the highest unemployment rate of 6.3% was noted in the area encompassing The Villages and Wildwood, indicating more significant challenges faced by those regions.

Other areas facing higher unemployment included Homosassa Springs at 5.2%, Sebring at 4.8%, and Punta Gorda at 4.4%. Both Ocala and the Lakeland-Winter Haven area recorded rates of 4.3% and 4.2% respectively.

The April unemployment rates in Florida’s metropolitan areas were not seasonally adjusted, while the statewide rate is seasonally adjusted. Florida has maintained a lower unemployment rate than the national average for 54 consecutive months. The state continues to experience fundamental support from its robust tourism sector, having welcomed 33.1 million visitors in the fourth quarter of 2024. Florida’s economy is highlighted as the number one economy in the U.S., with an impressive GDP of $1.7 trillion.