Whether you live here or are considering moving to Florida, you may be wondering how Florida is doing in terms of jobs. The March numbers have just been released, and the news is mixed, depending on which part of the Sunshine State you live in.
Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained steady at 3.6% in March 2025, unchanged from February but 0.4 percentage points higher than a year ago, according to new data released Friday by the Florida Department of Commerce. Florida’s unemployment rate was lower than the U.S. average of 4.2% for March 2025.
The state counted 403,000 unemployed residents out of a labor force of over 11.1 million. Florida’s jobless rate continues to beat the national average, which ticked up to 4.2% last month.
While the overall state numbers held firm, unemployment rates varied widely depending on where Floridians live. Monroe County reported the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 2.4%, driven largely by the area’s reliance on tourism and service jobs. Miami-Dade County followed closely behind at 2.8%, benefiting from a strong rebound in hospitality and trade sectors.
On the other end of the list, Taylor County posted the highest unemployment rate at 6.1%. Sumter County came in second with 5.8%, and Hamilton County rounded out the top three with 5.3%. These rural areas have struggled more to add jobs compared to larger urban centers.
Job growth across industries was broadly positive. Education and health services led the way, adding 42,000 jobs over the past year, a 2.8% increase. Trade, transportation, and utilities sectors also grew, gaining 24,600 jobs. Total nonagricultural employment in Florida climbed to just over 10 million jobs, an increase of 1.4% from March 2024. An interesting side note in the age of DOGE – Florida’s total government jobs increased by 1.9 percent (+21,400 jobs).
Among metro areas, Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford saw the largest gain in jobs, adding 30,100 positions, a 2.0% increase. Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall and Tampa metro divisions also posted strong job growth with gains of 21,200 and 14,600 jobs, respectively.
Looking at the year-over-year changes, four metro areas lost jobs: Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Naples-Marco Island, Sebastian-Vero Beach, and Punta Gorda.
The state’s labor market report is based on surveys by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics in collaboration with Florida’s workforce agencies. Officials noted that monthly figures are subject to revisions as more detailed data become available.
The next employment update for Florida is scheduled for May 16, 2025.
