TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity announced the Fort Myers area private-sector employment decreased by 15,300 jobs (-6.6 percent) over the year. The Fort Myers area’s unemployment rate was 10.7 percent in July, up 7.3 percentage points from one year ago. The Naples area private-sector employment decreased by 6,800 jobs (-5.0 percent) over the year. The Naples area’s unemployment rate was 10.4 percent in July, up 6.8 percentage points from one year ago.

The industry losing the most jobs over the year in the Fort Myers area was leisure and hospitality (-10,300 jobs).   Two major industries gained jobs over the year in the Fort Myers area:  professional and business (+800 jobs); and construction (+200 jobs).  The industry losing the most jobs over the year in the Naples area was leisure and hospitality (-5,200 jobs).  Four major industries gained jobs over the year in the Naples area:  construction (+1,000 jobs); government (+400 jobs); manufacturing (+300 jobs); and other services (+100 jobs).

Statewide, the number of private-sector jobs increased 74,100, up 1.0 percent from June 2020.  Florida’s labor force was up 223,000 over the month. Florida’s unemployment rate increased to 11.3 percent in July 2020. 

To view the July 2020 employment data, visit www.floridajobs.org/labor-market-information/labor-market-information-press-releases/monthly-press-releases.  

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