LEE COUNTY, Fla. -- Governor Ron DeSantis announced Friday that Florida’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.2 percent, as labor force participation increases. Florida’s economy continues to create new private-sector jobs, adding 215,000 private-sector jobs over the year.
He says the Naples area added 5,100 new private-sector jobs in the past year. The area’s unemployment rate matches the state's.
The industries with the highest growth over the year in the Naples area were leisure and hospitality with 1,600 new jobs, construction with 1,100 new jobs and trade, transportation and utilities with 1,000 new jobs. In September, the Naples area had 4,560 job openings and of those, 790 were for high-skill, high-wage STEM jobs.
The industries with the highest growth over the year in the Fort Myers area were education and health services with 2,500 new jobs, professional and business services with 2,300 new jobs, construction with 2,200 new jobs and trade, transportation and utilities with 2,000 new jobs. In September, Fort Myers area had 9,912 job openings and of those, 1,881 were for high-skill, high-wage STEM jobs.
Gov. DeSantis says that statewide, professional and business services and financial sectors continue to grow and supply the need for a diverse, high-skilled workforce.
“I can’t say it enough, Florida’s business-friendly environment continues to attract investment and growth,” said Governor DeSantis. “Prioritizing investments in innovation and talent development while keeping taxes low will continue to advance and diversify Florida’s economy.”
