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 Pensacola area was 3.6 percent in February, down from 11.9 percent reported in April 2020, the highest rate during the pandemic. Three major industries in the Pensacola area gained jobs over the year in February 2021. These industries include professional and business services, increasing by 2,000 jobs; trade, transportation, and utilities, increasing by 400 jobs; and financial activities, increasing by 100 jobs. The Pensacola area private sector employment decreased by 1,700 jobs, a decline of 1.1 percent over the year. The industry losing the most jobs over the year was leisure and hospitality, decreasing by 2,700 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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