TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity announced the West Palm Beach area private-sector employment decreased by 38,200 jobs (-6.7 percent) over the year. The West Palm Beach area’s unemployment rate was 6.1 percent in October.
The industry losing the most jobs over the year was leisure and hospitality (-16,800 jobs). Construction was the only major industry to gain jobs over the year in October 2020 (+200 jobs).
Statewide, the number of private-sector jobs increased 61,100, up 0.8 percent from September 2020. Florida’s unemployment rate decreased to 6.5 percent in October 2020. Florida’s labor force was down 14,000 (-0.1 percent) over the month.
To view the October 2020 employment data, visit www.floridajobs.org/labor-market-information/labor-market-information-press-releases/monthly-press-releases.
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