Jacksonville Sees Unemployment Rate Fall to 3%

News Summary

Jacksonville’s unemployment rate has decreased to an impressive 3% as of December, down from 3.5% in November, according to the Florida Department of Commerce. This marks the lowest rate since May, thanks to seasonal hiring during the holiday season. The Jacksonville metropolitan area maintains a stable labor force of approximately 842,067, with an increase of 4,360 employed individuals, bringing the total to 816,587. A broader view shows that while Florida’s overall rate remains at 3.4%, Jacksonville is slightly ahead, creating new jobs across multiple sectors.

Jacksonville Celebrates a Big Drop in Unemployment Rate!

Great news, Jacksonville! As the year wrapped up, the city saw its unemployment rate dip to an impressive 3% in December. This marks a significant drop from the 3.5% rate recorded in November. These numbers were rolled out by the Florida Department of Commerce on January 24, and they sure have a lot of people smiling!

A Seasonal Boost

This decline in unemployment is particularly noteworthy as it represents the lowest rate we’ve seen since May, when it was also 3%. It seems like the holiday season brought a burst of seasonal hiring that really made a difference. The labor force in our charming Jacksonville metropolitan area has remained quite stable, holding steady at around 842,067. It’s noteworthy that the number of people working actually increased by 4,360, bringing the total number of employed individuals up to 816,587!

Statewide Perspective

3.4% in December. When adjusted for seasonal factors, it drops slightly to 3.1%. But what does that mean for us folks in Jacksonville? Well, let’s just say we are slightly ahead of the pack!

Job Growth Across Sectors

1,300 jobs, while the transportation, warehousing, and utilities sector saw an increase of 1,200 jobs. That’s Christmas magic right there! But it doesn’t stop there. When we look over the entire year, Jacksonville businesses collectively added 11,600 new jobs, representing a healthy growth rate of 1.4% from December 2023 to December 2024.

Winners and Losers in Job Gains

2,900 jobs—that’s a growth rate of 5.6%! The accommodation and food services sector also celebrated a boost, adding 2,800 jobs or a 3.6% growth rate. On the downside, the financial activities sector unfortunately lost 3,800 jobs—a drop of 5%—and the administrative support and waste management sector experienced a decline of 1,900 jobs or 3.3%.

A Regional Snapshot

declines in unemployment rates. For instance, Duval County dropped from 3.6% in November to 3.1% in December. St. Johns and Nassau counties made quite the impact, achieving a low unemployment rate of 2.8%. Clay County matched Duval with a rate of 3.1%, but Baker County saw a slightly higher rate at 3.2%.

Riding the Wave of Recovery

Here’s to a new year full of _new jobs_, _new opportunities_, and a _stronger community_ in Jacksonville!

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Additional Resources

• Jacksonville Daily Record: Northeast Florida Unemployment Rate Drops During Holiday Season
• Florida Politics: Florida’s Unemployment Rate for August Was 3.3%
• Orlando Sentinel: Florida Unemployment Rate Holds at 3.3%
• U.S. News: Jacksonville Housing Market Forecast
• The Capitolist: Three Florida Cities Among Top Ten Best Places to Start a Business in 2024