TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity announced the statewide number of private sector jobs increased by 19,200 over the month. Florida’s unemployment rate was 4.7 percent in February 2021, down from the January rate of 4.8 percent. Florida’s labor force was up 55,000, a growth of 0.5 percentage point over the month.

The unemployment rate in the Tampa area was 4.2 percent in February, down from 13.9 percent reported in April 2020, the highest rate during the pandemic. Three major industries in the Tampa area gained jobs over the year in February 2021. These industries include financial activities, increasing by 2,300 jobs; professional and business services, increasing by 2,300 jobs; and construction, increasing by 400 jobs. The Tampa area private sector employment decreased by 37,400 jobs, a decline of 3.0 percent over the year. The industry losing the most jobs over the year was leisure and hospitality, decreasing by 27,700 jobs. 

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

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