Florida’s unemployment rate held steady at 3.7% in July 2025 (0.5% below the national rate) while North Central Florida counties rose slightly, with modest year-over-year job growth led by education, health services, and trade.
United States and Florida Unemployment Rates (seasonally adjusted)
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics Program, in cooperation with the Florida Department of Commerce, Bureau of Workforce Statistics & Economic Research.
Florida’s Unemployment Rates
According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Florida’s unemployment rate held steady in July, up slightly from last year.
- Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate as of July, 2025, was 3.7%, which is 0.5% below the U.S. rate of 4.2%.
- Compared to this period in 2024, the state rate is up 0.3%.
Florida’s Top Industries
The industries with the highest over-the-year job growth were:
- Education and Health Services: +2.6% (+40,400 jobs)
- Trade, Transportation, and Utilities: +1.5% (29,600 jobs)
- Leisure and Hospitality: +1.4% (+18,100 jobs)
The remaining six major industries also experienced positive over-the-year job growth in July:
- Total Government
- Professional and Business Services
- Other Services
- Financial Activities
- Construction
- Manufacturing
Florida’s overall nonagricultural employment totaled 10,069,000, representing an over-the-year increase of 134,100 (+1.3%).
North Central Florida’s Unemployment Rates
Unemployment rates across the Local Workforce Development Board 26 counties continue to track close to the national average of 4.2%:
- Alachua County: 4.8% (6,795)
- Bradford County: 4.6% (482)
- Columbia County: 4.8% (1,362)
- Dixie County: 5.2% (301)
- Gilchrist County: 4.3% (351)
- Union County: 5.7% (242)
This reflects an upward trend in comparison to July 2024 unemployment rates.
Notable Employment Trends
- The Gainesville MSA added approximately 2,900 (1.8%) nonagricultural jobs over the last year.
- The unemployment rates for Florida by county, Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), and Metropolitan Divisions (MDs) ranged from 2.8-7.1%.
To read the full report, click here.
Thanks to resources like CareerSource North Central Florida, jobseekers can access support services, training, and job-matching assistance. Floridians seeking employment are encouraged to visit our network at www.careersourcencfl.com for more information. For questions or data requests related to this Job Market Update, email aganz@careersourcencfl.com.