that is a huge factor in contributing to an increased demand for labor .”
Florida has seen employment increases during the past year in categories such as education and health services and trade , transportation and utilities . Also , it has seen increases in categories such as leisure and hospitality and construction .
“ The construction sector is one that we saw that was kind of disproportionately impacted by interest-rate increases earlier in the year ,” Heckman said . “ Over the back half of the year , however , we have seen that industry rebound quite a good bit .” percent . The Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville and Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent areas were at 3.2 percent .
The highest unemployment rate was in the Homosassa Springs area at 4.5 percent , followed by the Sebring area and The Villages area at 4.4 percent .
The statewide unemployment rate is seasonally adjusted , while rates for the metropolitan statistical areas are not adjusted .
The national unemployment rate in November was 3.7 percent , down from 3.9 percent in October . The national rate has been under 4 percent for two years .
Across Florida , the Miami-Fort Lauderdale- West Palm Beach metropolitan statistical area had the lowest rate in November at 2.3 percent . Within that area , the Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall region was at 1.4 percent .
Also below 3 percent were the Crestview- Fort-Walton Beach area at 2.8 percent and the Panama City and Naples-Immokalee- Marco Island areas at 2.9 percent .
Among other regions , the Jacksonville and Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford metro areas were at 3 percent .
The Cape Coral-Fort Myers and Tampa-St . Petersburg-Clearwater areas were at 3.1
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