• Florida’s unemployment rate for January was 2.6 percent, a 0.1 percent decrease from the previous month and 0.8% below the national rate.
• Private sector employment in Florida grew by 5.3 percent year-over-year, which is 1.7 percent faster than the national rate over the same period.
• Job growth in Florida has outperformed the nation for 22 consecutive months, with leisure and hospitality being the industry with the most job gains.

Florida’s January unemployment rate was reported at 2.6 percent on Monday, down 0.1 percentage points from the previous month’s rate and 0.8 percentage points below the national rate of 3.4 percent.

The private sector employment in Florida grew by 5.3 percent year-over-year, which is 1.7 percent faster than the national rate of 3.6 percent over the same time period. The state’s labor force also grew by 259,000 (a 2.4 percent increase) from one year ago, more than one percentage point faster than the national rate of 1.3 percent over the same time period.

Moreover, Florida’s job growth has outperformed the nation for the 22nd consecutive month. Leisure and hospitality gained the most jobs among all major industries, adding 16,100 jobs (1.2 percent increase) over the month, followed by education and health services, adding 4,900 jobs (0.3 percent increase), financial activities, adding 4,900 jobs (0.7 percent increase).

Florida’s regional numbers also reflected growth, with the Fort Lauderdale area seeing a 3 percent increase in private sector jobs, led by the financial activities industry, which added 3,500 jobs. Similarly, the Jacksonville area saw a 5 percent increase in private sector jobs, with the leisure and hospitality industry leading job gains with an increase of 7,000 jobs.

The Miami metro area added 58,500 new private sector jobs, led by the trade, transportation, and utilities industry, which added 16,600 new jobs. Meanwhile, the Orlando metro area experienced the highest increase in private sector jobs, adding 75,300 new jobs over the year, with the leisure and hospitality industry contributing the most job gains. The Tampa area also saw job growth, with 72,600 new private sector jobs created over the year, led by the leisure and hospitality industries.

“Floridians can trust in Florida’s workforce, businesses, and communities for years to come,” said Acting Secretary Meredith Ivey of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. “Florida’s unemployment rate is consistently below the national average and the private sector continues to generate jobs, creating nearly 30,000 jobs over the month in January 2023.”