In May, unemployment increased by 0.3% to 3.7%, and the number of people unemployed rose by 440,000 to 6.1 million. The unemployment rate has ranged from 3.4% to 3.7% since March 2022. The labor force participation rate was 62.6% during the month, and the employment-population ratio was 60.3%. Following the employment-population ratio, the number of people employed part-time for economic reasons, at 3.7 million, changed little in May 2023.
May Job Growth Among All States
- Florida gained the 4th most jobs (+17,500 jobs)
- Texas gained the most jobs (+51,000 jobs)
- Wisconsin lost the most jobs (-6,400 jobs)
May Job Growth Among the Largest 10 States
- Florida had the 6th fastest growth rate (+0.2%)
- Texas has the fastest growth rate (+0.4%)
- Illinois had the slowest growth rate (+less than 0.1%)
North Central Florida Labor Numbers
In Florida, the economy continues to support job growth compared to other states. May’s unemployment rate remains at a low of 2.6%, unchanged from the April 2023 rate and down 0.3% from May 2022. In addition, Florida’s seasonally adjusted total nonagricultural employment was 9,726,100 in May 2023. The state gained 346,600 jobs over the year, an increase of 3.7%. Nationally, the number of jobs rose by 2.7% over the year.
Locally, in Alachua County, the labor force, or the number of individuals employed and seeking employment, in April was 144,067, while employment in the county was 139,996, compared to the April labor force of 147,018 and the employment level of 143,556. In the same month, Gainesville’s unemployment increased to 2.8%, with the unemployment level at 4,312.
Many job opportunities are available throughout the state, with more than 409,000 jobs posted online! We encourage Floridians searching for work and new job opportunities to turn to the CareerSource North Central Florida network for help. If you want to learn more about available jobs in the North Central Florida area, email [email protected].