TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity announced the statewide number of private sector jobs increased 1,700 from December 2020.  Florida’s unemployment rate was 4.8 percent in January 2021, down from the revised December rate of 5.1 percent.  Florida’s labor force was up 25,000, a growth of 0.2 percentage point over the month.

The Fort Myers area’s unemployment rate was 4.6 percent in January, down from 15.1 percent reported in April 2020, the highest rate during the pandemic. Construction was the only major industry in the Fort Myers area that gained jobs over the year in January 2021, increasing by 1,600 jobs. The Fort Myers area private sector employment decreased by 12,400 jobs, a decline of 5.2 percent over the year. The industry losing the most jobs over the year was leisure and hospitality, decreasing by 8,800 jobs.

The Naples area’s unemployment rate was 3.9 percent in January, down from 14.3 percent reported in April 2020, the highest rate during the pandemic. Two major industries in the Naples area that gained jobs over the year in January 2021 include professional and business services, increasing by 1,800 jobs, and construction, increasing by 300 jobs. The Naples area private sector employment decreased by 5,100 jobs, a decline of 3.5 percent over the year. The industry losing the most jobs over the year was leisure and hospitality, decreasing by 3,200 jobs.

To view the January 2021 employment data, visit www.floridajobs.org/labor-market-information/labor-market-information-press-releases/monthly-press-releases.  

###