TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity announced the statewide number of private sector jobs increased 1,700 from December 2020.  Florida’s unemployment rate was 4.8 percent in January 2021, down from the revised December rate of 5.1 percent.  Florida’s labor force was up 25,000, a growth of 0.2 percentage point over the month.

The Jacksonville area’s unemployment rate was 4.4 percent in January, down from 11.5 percent reported in April 2020, the highest rate during the pandemic. Financial activities was the only major industry to gain jobs in the Jacksonville area over the year, increasing by 1,600 jobs. The Jacksonville area private sector employment decreased by 18,200 jobs, a decline of 2.8 percent over the year. The industry losing the most jobs over the year was leisure and hospitality, decreasing by 9,700 jobs.

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

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