The revisions also moved the state back below the federal jobless rate , which dropped from 3.9 percent in January to 3.8 percent in February , with the Department of Labor on March 4 estimating the nation added 678,000 jobs in February , atop the 481,000 in January and 588,000 for December .
Over the past year , Florida ’ s labor force has grown by 3.1 percent , compared to a 2.2 percent nationally , Johnston said .
With the new numbers , the biggest job gains over the past year have come in leisure and hospitality , up 17.4 percent , professional and business services , up 7.2 percent , and trade , transportation and utilities , up 5.7 percent .
Construction jobs were up 2.6 . percent , manufacturing jobs increased by 3.9 percent , and jobs involving education and health services grew by 2.1 percent .
Statewide , the lowest January unemployment rate was in Monroe County , which includes the Florida Keys , at 2.3 percent , followed by St . Johns County at 2.6 percent .
Rural Hamilton and Putnam counties held the highest rates at 5.1 percent .
Among the state ’ s metropolitan statistical areas , the unemployment rate around Jacksonville was at 3.3 percent , with the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach and the Tampa-St . Petersburg-Clearwater at 3.4 percent and the Orlando-Kissimmee- Sanford area at 3.8 percent .
Florida will update the employment numbers — reflecting mid-February conditions — on March 25 .
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