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 Jacksonville area was 3.7 percent in February, 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 1,800 jobs. The Jacksonville area private sector employment decreased by 20,900 jobs, a decline of 3.2 percent over the year. The industry losing the most jobs over the year was leisure and hospitality, decreasing by 10,800 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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