Florida unemployment down to 4.8% after 9 months of job growth

Data shows people getting back to work after COVID-19 pandemic

In this file photo, Charles Perez wears a protective face mask and gloves as he waits on tables at the Morada Bay Beach Cafe in Islamorada. Florida's jobs numbers have improved for nine straight months, the state says. (Lynne Sladky, Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – In the latest sign of economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, Florida’s unemployment rate through January was 4.8%, which reflects nine straight months of job growth. That figure is also well below the national average of 6.3%, the state’s Department of Economic Opportunity said Monday.

CareerSource Broward also released data showing that Broward County’s unemployment rate in January was 5.3%. Miami-Dade County’s unemployment rate was 8.1%; Monroe County’s was 3.5%; and Palm Beach County’s was 4.8% in the latest numbers available.

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“Florida’s economy remains resilient under Governor [Ron] DeSantis’ leadership as we continue to see sustained month-over-month job growth,” Dane Eagle, the executive director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity said in a statement. “Governor DeSantis has kept our state open for business, and I am proud of the work we have done to ensure Floridians continue to return to the workforce.”

The DEO said that private-sector industries gaining the most jobs over the month of January were:

  • Trade, transportation and utilities with 4,400 new jobs
  • Construction with 3,500 new jobs
  • Education and health Services with 3,200 new jobs

Compared to January 2020, Florida’s private-sector job rate was down 6.5 percent in January 2021.

For more information on state unemployment rates from the DEO, click here.


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