TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity announced Florida businesses gained 36,100 private sector jobs over the month and Florida’s unemployment rate for September 2020 is at 7.6 percent. Additionally, Florida’s labor force decreased by 2,000 (-less than 0.1 percent) over the month.  

“Our mission is clear. The Department will continue focusing on providing opportunities for Florida businesses to create jobs for families through strategic investments in communities and workforce development,” said Dane Eagle, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. “Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership and with the support of local governments and our economic development partners, we look forward to the road ahead and rebuilding Florida’s economy.”

Florida Economic Indicators for September 2020 include:

• Unemployment rate was 7.6 percent.
• Labor force was down 2,000 over the month.
• Florida businesses gained 36,100 private-sector jobs over the month.
• Florida’s private-sector job creation over-the-year rate of decline of 5.3 percent was less than the national over-the-year decline of 6.8 percent.
• Florida private-sector jobs were down 419,900 over the year.
• Private-sector industries gaining the most jobs over-the-month were:
  • Trade, transportation and utilities with 12,900
  • Education and health services with 6,900 new jobs;
  • Professional and business services with 6,300 new jobs;
  • Leisure and hospitality with 4,100 new jobs;
  • Manufacturing with 3,700 new jobs;
  • Financial activities with 3,300 new jobs.
• Consumer Sentiment Index is 85.1 in September 2020, 6.3 points higher than the August revised figure of 78.8.

Additional Weeks of Reemployment Assistance:

Each year, the maximum number of weeks available to Reemployment Assistance claimants is calculated based on the average unemployment rate for the most recent third calendar year quarter.

• The maximum duration of benefits is twelve weeks if this statewide average unemployment rate is at or below 5 percent.
• An additional week is added to the maximum duration for each 0.5 percentage point increment in the statewide average unemployment rate above 5 percent.

The maximum number of weeks available to claimants filing for Reemployment Assistance after January 1, 2021 is calculated based on the three-month average statewide unemployment rate for the months of July, August and September 2020.

• The preliminary average 2020 third quarter statewide unemployment rate is 8.7 percent. Based on this, the expected maximum number of benefit weeks for claimants filing for Reemployment Assistance after January 1, 2021 will be 19 weeks.
• The final number of maximum Reemployment Assistance benefit weeks will be calculated on November 20, 2020 when the final September 2020 unemployment rate is released.

To view the September 2020 jobs reports by region, please see below: 

• Fort Lauderdale
• Jacksonville
• Miami
• Orlando
• Pensacola
• Southwest Florida
• Tampa
• West Palm Beach

To view the September 2020 employment data visit www.floridajobs.org/labor-market-information/labor-market-information-press-releases/monthly-press-releases. Visit Florida Insight, for more information on labor market and economic data . Additionally, the Department has provided a video to assist users in explaining the data provided through Florida Insight and the new platform. 

To view today's presentation, view this video. 


About DEO

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity combines the state’s economic, workforce and community development efforts, expediting economic development projects to fuel job creation in competitive communities and promote economic resiliency. For more information, including valuable resources for employers and job seekers, please visit www.FloridaJobs.org.