TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity announced the West Palm Beach area private-sector employment decreased by 45,200 jobs (-8.0 percent) over the year. The West Palm Beach area’s unemployment rate was 7.0 percent in September.
The industry losing the most jobs over the year was leisure and hospitality (-20,300 jobs). Two major industries gained jobs over the year in September 2020: construction (+800 jobs); and financial activities (+300 jobs).
Statewide, the number of private-sector jobs increased 36,100, up 0.5 percent from August 2020. Florida’s unemployment rate was at 7.6 percent in September 2020. Florida’s labor force down 2,000 (-less than 0.1 percent) over the month.
To view the September 2020 employment data, visit www.floridajobs.org/labor-market-information/labor-market-information-press-releases/monthly-press-releases.
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