Florida Construction News staff writer
Florida’s unemployment rate remains the lowest among the 10 largest states in the U.S. for the twelfth consecutive month. The statewide unemployment rate of 2.6 percent in May is 1.1 per cent below the national rate of 3.7 percent. Private sector employment increased by 17,200 jobs last month, and by 323,400 jobs (3.9 percent) over the year.
In May 2023, statistics show the labor force grew by 246,000 (+2.3 percent) over the year since May 2022, faster than the national labor force growth rate of 1.5 percent during the same time period. Adding 38,000 jobs (+0.3 percent) in Florida tripled the nation’s labor force growth rate of 0.1 per cent and. Florida’s private sector employment increased by 17,200 over the month, an increase of 0.2 percent from April.
In May 2023, the education and health services sector gained the most jobs among all major industries, adding 8,800 jobs (+0.6 percent) from the previous month, followed by professional and business services with 6,200 jobs (+0.4 percent) and leisure and hospitality, adding 3,700 jobs (+0.3 percent).
Data from the month of May also showed more than 450,000 jobs posted online across the state.
To view the May 2023 jobs reports by region, please see below:
