At the end of last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Florida’s unemployment rate dropped to 2.7 percent in July, down from 2.8 percent in June.
Florida’s July 2022 unemployment rate is the lowest since February 2020 and this level has only been reached three times since Florida began recording unemployment data in 1976. Florida’s private sector employment grew by 70,000 in July 2022, doubling the nation’s job growth rate over the same period. Before July 2022, Florida has reached this level of over-the-month job creation only six other times since data began to be collected in 1990. Florida’s labor force also grew over the month in July 2022, while the national labor force shrank for the second consecutive month. July 2022 employment data demonstrates that Floridians are continuing to enter the workforce and businesses are continuing to create jobs.
“Florida continues to outperform the nation because freedom first policies work,” said DeSantis. “July’s job numbers represent one of the largest month’s job gains over the past generation and Florida continues to outpace the nation in labor force growth.”
“July’s employment data speaks for itself — under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, Florida is thriving. July is one of the best months Florida has seen for job creation, representing an achievement the state has only reached seven times in its history,” said DEO Secretary Dane Eagle. “DEO will continue to support Governor DeSantis’ strategic investments in Florida’s residents, businesses, and communities to continue this momentum and keep Florida’s economy strong.”
The national unemployment rate was 3.5 percent for July.
Total private employment grew by 5.5 percent (433,500 jobs) over the year, 0.7 percentage point faster than the national rate of 4.8 percent. Florida employers have added jobs for 27 consecutive months in July 2022, and Florida’s over-the-year private sector job growth rate has exceeded the nation’s for 16 consecutive months since April 2021.
Florida’s labor force also grew by 26,000 (+0.2 percent) over the month, while the national labor force shrank by less than 0.1 percent. In July 2022, Florida’s labor force grew by 291,000 (+2.8 percent) over the year, faster than the national rate of 1.6 percent by 1.2 percentage points.
Data in the month of July continues to indicate there are many job opportunities available for Floridians throughout the state, with more than 545,000 jobs posted online.
In July, Monroe County had the state’s lowest unemployment rate (1.7 percent), followed by St. Johns County (2.2 percent), and Miami-Dade County and Okaloosa County (2.3 percent each).
Hendry County had the highest unemployment rate (5.9 percent) in Florida in July, followed by Highlands County (4.4 percent), and Citrus County, Hardee County and Putnam County (4.2 percent each).
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