Southwest Florida unemployment rises with slower season.
In June, unemployment nudged higher in Southwest Florida.
It’s common, with a downward shift into the slower season.
According to a monthly report released Friday by FloridaCommerce, jobless rates in four of the region’s five counties increased by a few tenths of a percentage point over the year.
Here’s a glance at the rates in June compared to the same month last year, by county:
- Charlotte: 3.9%, up from 3.5%
- Collier: 3.3%, up from 3.1%
- Glades: 4.6%, up from 4%
- Hendry: 5.6%, down from 5.8%
- Lee: 3.6%, up from 3.3%
Economists consider a jobless rate of 4% to 5% to be “full employment” because there are always workers between jobs and enterprises in transition, according to a recent article by Laura Layden of Naples Daily News.
Overall, Southwest Florida’s job market remains healthy.
Hendry’s unemployment rate improved, although it remained the highest in the state.
In June, the regional unemployment rate was 3.5%, which is the same as the state rate.
Monroe County was included in the Southwest Florida data for the first time, despite the fact that it is typically considered part of South Florida. This is owing to the reorganization and consolidation of the state’s network of workforce development boards, which go by the name CareerSource.
Amy Hanna-Eckenrode, communications director for CareerSource Southwest Florida, stated that the restructuring aims to maximize resources, promote uniformity, and increase efficiency.
“We are very excited to have Monroe,” she explained. “We are just establishing two new offices, one in Key West and one in Tavernier, and our staff will cover the whole Keys.”
Monroe had the state’s lowest unemployment rate in June, at 2.1% (vs 2% a year ago).
The labor force in the six counties increased by 1,770 over the previous year, reaching 719,790. There were 25,182 unemployed residents.
“It just seems like more people are simply relocating to our area on a more permanent basis,” Hanna-Eckenrode pointed out. “There are snow birds. There are vacationers, but the base appears to be growing on a permanent basis.”
She continued, “A lot of them are in the workforce.”
In June, Collier’s work force climbed by 1,801 over the previous year, while Lee’s increased by only 53.
Southwest Florida is comprised of three metropolitan areas, namely Collier, Lee, and Charlotte counties. Over the course of the year, they created 11,300 new positions.
Which industries are creating the most jobs in those areas?
Construction (+3,400); government (+2,200); leisure and hospitality (+1,800); trade, transportation, and utilities (+1,600); and education and health care (+1,300).
Only one sector lost jobs: financial activities (-100).
Over the course of the year, Collier added 5,100 jobs, Lee 5,500, and Charlotte 700.
Which industry are creating the most jobs in each country?
Collier has 1,800 jobs in leisure and hospitality, Lee has 2,400 in construction, and Charlotte has 300 in government.
Hanna-Eckenrode stated that many firms in the region are still looking for labor, particularly in the building industry and trades like plumbing and electrical services.
CareerSource is holding many hiring events in July and August. This includes one on July 30 at its Immokalee center, in collaboration with Collier County government, the Collier Sheriff’s Office, the Collier Clerk’s Office, the Collier School District, and the City of Naples.
A Youth Career Day for employment exploration is scheduled for July 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Fort Myers Housing Authority offices on Renaissance Preserve Way in Fort Myers.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News