the largest number of new jobs , 142,600 , in the past year .
Jobs tied to trade , transportation , and utilities added 91,300 jobs in 2021 . Education and health services were up 51,900 , financial activities added 30,400 and construction added 20,400 .
Across the state , the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metropolitan statistical area had the lowest jobless rate in December at 2.6 percent . The region was one of the hardest-hit by the pandemic .
The next-lowest rate was in the Naples- Immokalee-Marco Island area at 2.7 percent , followed by the Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin area at 2.9 percent .
The tourism-heavy Orlando-Kissimmee- Sanford area was at 3.8 percent .
The Jacksonville area stood at 3.2 percent in December . The Tampa-St . Petersburg- Clearwater and Panama City areas were at 3.3 percent . The Pensacola area was at 3.4 percent . The Deltona-Daytona Beach- Ormond Beach area was at 3.8 percent .
The highest unemployment rates were found in The Villages , Sebring and Homosassa Springs metro areas , each at 4.7 percent . The metro rates were not seasonally adjusted , while the statewide mark was adjusted .
JANUARY 2022 • DITCHMEN 19