TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity announced the statewide number of private sector jobs increased by 19,200 over the month. Florida’s unemployment rate was 4.7 percent in February 2021, down from the January rate of 4.8 percent. Florida’s labor force was up 55,000, a growth of 0.5 percentage point over the month.

The unemployment rate in the Fort Myers area was 4.1 percent in February, down from 15.1 percent reported in April 2020, the highest rate during the pandemic. Construction was the only major industry in the Fort Myers area that gained jobs over the year in February 2021, increasing by 700 jobs. The Fort Myers area private sector employment decreased by 14,200 jobs, a decline of 5.9 percent over the year. The industry losing the most jobs over the year in the Fort Myers area was leisure and hospitality, decreasing by 9,200 jobs.

The unemployment rate in the Naples area was 3.4 percent in February, down from 14.3 percent reported in April 2020, the highest rate during the pandemic. Three major industries in the Naples area gained jobs over the year in February 2021. These industries include professional and business services, increasing by 1,800 jobs; construction, increasing by 200 jobs; and manufacturing, increasing by 100 jobs. The Naples area private sector employment decreased by 5,400 jobs, a decline of 3.7 percent over the year. The industry losing the most jobs over the year was leisure and hospitality, decreasing by 3,800 jobs.

To view the February 2021 employment data, visit www.floridajobs.org/labor-market-information/labor-market-information-press-releases/monthly-press-releases.  

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