Jobless Rate Continues to Hold
News Service of Florida
TALLAHASSEE --- Florida ’ s unemployment rate remained at 2.6 percent in March , as service-related jobs continued to lead in new hiring and construction jobs fell for a third consecutive month . The state Department of Economic Opportunity on Friday reported an estimated 283,000 Floridians were out of work in mid-March , 1,000 fewer than in February and 49,000 less than in March 2022 . Meanwhile , the workforce hit 10.92 million people , up 43,000 from mid-February and 250,000 more than in March 2022 .
Jimmy Heckman , the department ’ s chief of workforce statistics and economic research , said in a conference call with reporters that increases in the state ’ s labor force have outpaced the national rate since June 2021 . The growth is built on the leisure and hospitality sectors , which added 104,100 positions from March 2022 to March 2023 , followed by 91,600 new jobs in the education and health services sectors .
Meanwhile , jobs involving trade , transportation , and utilities grew by 69,500 year over year . In the same period , the state added 15,100 jobs in construction and 12,900 in manufacturing . But from February to March , the construction sector lost 2,300 positions , the third consecutive month of losses . Heckman said the construction industry is sensitive to recent interestrate increases , which have “ put a lot of downward pressure on the demand for new construction , for new buildings , especially in residential construction .”
The Department of Economic Opportunity said private-sector employment increased in March by 0.1 percent , or 12,100 jobs . It also indicated a possible tightening of the labor market , pointing to more than 400,000 jobs currently posted online in Florida . In March , the state recorded about 620,000 job openings . Florida was among 32 states where the unemployment rate remained steady from February to March , according to the U . S . Department of Labor . Another 18 states saw rates go down . Among large states , unemployment rates stood at 4.4 percent in California and Illinois , 4.1 percent in New York and 4 percent in Texas .
The Department of Labor said this month that the national unemployment rate decreased from 3.6 percent in February to 3.5 percent in March . Among Florida ’ s metropolitan-statistical areas , the lowest rate in March was 2.2 percent in the Miami- Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach region . The Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford , Tampa- St . Petersburg-Clearwater , Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent and Jacksonville statistical areas were each at 2.6 percent . The Villages , Homosassa Springs and Sebring areas had the highest rates , at 3.8 percent . The statewide unemployment rate is seasonally adjusted , while the regional rates are not adjusted .
MARCH / APRIL 2023 • DITCHMEN 5