Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, the Department of Economic Opportunity announced the Jacksonville area private-sector employment decreased by 25,800 jobs (-4.0 percent) over the year. The Jacksonville area’s unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in August, up 2.5 percentage points from one year ago.

The industry losing the most jobs over the year was leisure and hospitality (-13,900 jobs). Three major industries gained jobs over the year in August 2020: education and health services (+1,200 jobs); financial activities (+500 jobs); and construction (+200 jobs).

Statewide, the number of private-sector jobs increased 46,000, up 0.6 percent from July 2020.  Florida’s unemployment rate decreased to 7.4 percent in August 2020. Florida’s labor force was up 143,000 (+1.4 percent) over the month.

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

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