TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity announced that the number of private-sector jobs increased Statewide by 21,100, up 0.3 percent from November 2020.  Florida’s unemployment rate was 6.1 percent in December 2020, down from the revised November rate of 6.3 percent. Florida’s labor force was up 31,000 (+0.3 percent) over the month.

The unemployment rate in the Orlando area was 6.9 percent in December, down from 21.1 percent reported in May 2020, the highest rate during the pandemic. The Orlando area private-sector employment decreased by 120,300 jobs (-9.8 percent) over the year. The industries losing the least amount of jobs over the year in December 2020 were manufacturing (-800 jobs) and financial activities (-1,100 jobs). The industry losing the most jobs in the Orlando area over the year was leisure and hospitality (-87,400 jobs).   

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

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