Jimmy Heckman , the Department of Commerce ’ s chief of workforce statistics and economic research , told reporters Friday that officials “ see , across all of our industry sectors , a lot of our sectors recover that had lost jobs earlier in the year .”
“ We are not seeing anything that is concentrated in one particular industry , that would lead us to think this is kind of a change in trend ,” Heckman said . “ It ’ s really more of a moderation from the record lows that we saw earlier in the year .”
The highest rate was 4.5 percent in the Homosassa Springs area , followed by the Sebring area and The Villages area at 4.3 percent .
The statewide unemployment rate is seasonally adjusted , while rates for the metropolitan statistical areas are not adjusted .
Private-sector employment in Florida increased 2.6 percent over the past year , including 5.5 percent in a category of education and health services . Employment in a category that includes trade , transportation , and utilities were up 3 percent .
The Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metropolitan statistical area had the state ’ s lowest unemployment rate in December at 2.4 percent . Within that area , the Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall region was at 1.6 percent .
The Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin area was at 2.7 percent , while the Naples- Immokalee-Marco Island area was at 2.8 percent and the Jacksonville area was at 2.9 percent .
The Cape Coral-Fort Myers , Orlando- Kissimmee-Sanford , Panama City and Tallahassee areas were at 3 percent .
JANUARY 2024 • DITCHMEN 11