Orange County unemployment rate drops to 2.6% in October

The unemployment rate in the CareerSource Central Florida (CSCF) region (Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and Sumter counties) was 2.7% in October 2019, which was 0.2 percentage points lower than the state rate of 2.9%. —0.3 percentage point lower than the rate of 3.0% during the same time frame last year. The labor force was 1,428,380, up 41,879 (+3.0) over the year. There were 39,023 unemployed residents in the region.

Unemployment Rates

Central Florida's Lowest Unemployment Rates:

Orange County and Seminole County had the lowest unemployment rate (2.6%) in the CSCF region followed by Lake County (2.9%), Osceola County (3.0%), and Sumter County (4.0%).

Job Growth Trends

Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford MSA:

Nonagricultural was 1,356,800, an Increase of 44,900 Jobs (+3.4%) Over the Year.

Highest Annual Job Growth*

Professional and Business Services (+18,300 Jobs)

Leisure and Hospitality (+9,800 Jobs)

Mining, Logging, and Construction (+5,100 Jobs)

Government (+4,000 Jobs)

Manufacturing (+3,400 Jobs)

Education and Health Services (+3,300 Jobs)

Financial Activities (+1,100 Jobs)

Fastest Annual Job Growth Rate*

Manufacturing (+7.2%)

Second Highest Annual Job Growth*

Mining, Logging, and Construction (+5,100 jobs)

Third Fastest Annual Job Growth Rate*

Professional and Business Services (+7.7%)

*Compared to All the Metro Areas in the State

The Villages MSA:

Nonagricultural Employment in The Villages MSA was 30,700, an increase of 800 jobs (+2.7%) over the year.

Trends in High Growth Industries (HGIs)

The following HGIs Grew Faster in the CSCF Region than Statewide Over the Year:

Professional and Business services (+7.7%)

Manufacturing (+7.2%)

Mining, Logging, and Construction (+3.7%)

Government (+3.1%)

The Trade, Transportation, and Utilities Industry (-100 jobs) Lost Jobs Over the Year.

Additional Information

Source: Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Bureau of Workforce Statistics and Economic Research.

Next Release Scheduled for December 20th, 2019.