Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, the Department of Economic Opportunity announced the Fort Myers area private-sector employment decreased by 11,400 jobs (-5.0 percent) over the year. The Fort Myers area’s unemployment rate was 7.1 percent in August, up 3.7 percentage points from one year ago. The Naples area private-sector employment decreased by 5,500 jobs (-4.0 percent) over the year. The Naples area’s unemployment rate was 7.0 percent in August, up 3.3 percentage points from one year ago.

The industry losing the most jobs over the year in the Fort Myers area was leisure and hospitality (-7,300 jobs). Three major industries gained jobs over the year in the Fort Myers area:  construction (+900 jobs); professional and business services (+700 jobs); and government (+600 jobs). The industry losing the most jobs over the year in the Naples area was leisure and hospitality (-3,900 jobs). Four major industries gained jobs over the year in the Naples area: construction (+900 jobs); government (+500 jobs); manufacturing (+300 jobs); and other services (+200 jobs).

Statewide, the number of private-sector jobs increased 46,000, up 0.6 percent from July 2020. Florida’s unemployment rate decreased to 7.4 percent in August 2020. Florida’s labor force was up 143,000 (+1.4 percent) over the month.

To view the August 2020 employment data, visit www.floridajobs.org/labor-market-information/labor-market-information-press-releases/monthly-press-releases.  

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