(The Center Square) – According to state and federal data, Florida’s unemployment rate inched up by 0.1% in April to 3.7%, still lower than the national average of 4.2%.
According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the labor force participation rate was at 58%, down from a 10-year high in October 2019 when it was at 59.9%.
The seasonally adjusted labor force participation rate is defined as the percentage of those either working or seeking work.
Florida’s seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment was slightly more than 10 million in April, an increase of 21,300 jobs compared to March. For the year to date, the state has added 144,100 jobs, an increase of 1.5%.
All 10 major industries had job growth in April, with the education and health services sector growing the most, adding 48,200 jobs for a gain of 3.2%.
The trade, transportation and utilities sector added 26,200 jobs for a gain of 1.3%, while government added 18,400 jobs (1.6% gain). The other services sector grew by 12,600 jobs or 3.3% while construction added 12,400 jobs for a 1.9% gain.
Monroe County had the state’s lowest unemployment rate at 2.4%. Miami-Dade County was 2.7% and Wakulla County 3%.
The highest local unemployment in April was found in Sumter County at 6.3%. Taylor County was 6.1% and Citrus County and Hamilton County each 5.2%.
According to the data, 22 of the state’s 25 metropolitan areas gained jobs so far in the year to date.
The biggest gainer was the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford metro area, which added 28,300 jobs for a gain of 1.9%.
The Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall metro area added 20,900 jobs for a 1.6% gain, while Tampa added 14,500 jobs for an increase of 1.4%. The Miami area has the lowest unemployment rate among the state’s metro areas at 2.7%.
Across Tampa Bay in Pinellas County, the news was grimmer, as the St. Petersburg-Clearwater-Largo area lost 3,000 jobs or a decline of 0.6%.
The next two metro areas that lost jobs were located in southwest Florida. The Naples-Marco Island metro area lost 2,600 jobs with a decline of 1.4% and the Cape Coral-Fort Myers area lost 200 jobs, a 0.1% downgrade.
