Politics & Government
Florida's Jobless Rate Declines To 3.3 Percent; Economic Growth Continues
Florida gained more than 500,000 jobs during the past year, making for an unemployment rate of 3.3 percent as of February.
March 25, 2022
Florida gained more than 500,000 jobs during the past year, making for an unemployment rate of 3.3 percent as of February, which was down by 2.3 percentage points compared to January 2021, according to data released by the state Department of Economic Opportunity.
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That left 348,000 people jobless out of a labor force of nearly 10.5 million, the agency said. The state boasted 9,227,500 jobs as of February.
The grand total of jobs gained was 530,200 during the year, an increase of 6.1 percent compared to a national growth rate of 4.6 percent.
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“Florida’s total nonagricultural and private sector employment surpassed the February 2020 (pre-pandemic) level in October 2021 and labor force surpassed the February 2020 level in June 2021,” the agency said.
Gov. Ron DeSantis cited the figures as evidence his “freedom-first” policy, rejecting “lockdowns,” mandatory mask-wearing, and vaccinations to combat COVID, are working.
“When you put freedom first, you put hardworking families first, and every Floridian reaps the benefits. February’s economic data is more concrete evidence that Florida is on the right path,” the governor said in a written statement.
Monroe County had the state’s lowest unemployment rate, at 2 percent. St. Johns County was next, at 2.3 percent, followed by Nassau, Okaloosa, Union, and Wakulla counties, at 2.5 percent each.
Hamilton County posted the highest unemployment rate, at 4.5 percent, followed by Highlands and Putnam counties, at 4.4 percent each, and Citrus County, at 4.3 percent.
The Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford metropolitan area recorded the highest job gains over the year, at 112,700 or a 9.2 percent increase, followed by Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall at 1,700 jobs (plus 7.1 percent), and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater at 75,900 jobs (plus 5.5 percent).
Sebring was the only metro area to lose jobs, at minus 100 or 0.4 percent.
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