Central Florida’s Unemployment Rate At 4.2% for March 2020, 0.1 Percentage Point Lower than the State

Orlando, Fla., April 21, 2020 – The unemployment rate in the CareerSource Central Florida (CSCF) region (Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and Sumter counties) was 4.2% in March 2020, which was lower than the state’s rate of 4.3%. This rate was 1.1 percentage point higher than the region’s rate of 3.1% during the same timeframe last year. The labor force was 1,402,031 up 21,765 (+1.6) over the year. There were 58,933 unemployed residents in the region.

Unemployment Rates

Central Florida’s Lowest Unemployment Rates:

• Orange County and Seminole County had the lowest unemployment rate (4.0%) in the CSCF region followed by Lake County and Osceola County (4.5%), and Sumter County (6.3%).

Job Growth Trends

Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford MSA:

• Nonagricultural was 1,344,500, an increase of 19,700 Jobs (+1.5%) Over the Year.
• Highest Annual Job Growth*
  • Mining, Logging, and Construction (+5,900 Jobs)
  • Financial Activities (+3,300 Jobs)
• Second Fastest Annual Job Growth Rate*
  • Education and Health Services (+5.1%)
  • Financial Activities (+4.3%)
  • Information (+1.2%)

• Tied for the Second Highest Annual Job Growth*
  • Manufacturing (+1,100 Jobs)
• Industries gaining in jobs over the year were:
  • Education and Health Services (+8,200 Jobs)
  • Manufacturing (+1,100 Jobs)
  • Government (+600 Jobs)
  • Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+1,900 Jobs)
  • Other Services (+600 Jobs)
  • Information (+300 Jobs)

The Villages MSA:

• Nonagricultural Employment was 32,800, an increase of 700 Jobs (+2.2%) Over the Year

Trends in High Growth Industries (HGIs):

• The Following HGIs Grew Faster in the CSCF Region than Statewide Over the Year:
  • Mining, Logging, and Construction (+6.9%)
  • Education and Health Services (+5.1%)
  • Financial Activities (+4.3%)
  • Manufacturing (+2.2%)
  • Other Services (+1.3%)
  • Information (+1.2%)

Additional Information