Florida’s unemployment rate reached its lowest mark since February 2007, falling 0.2 percentage points in September to 3.5 percent, according to numbers released Friday by the state Department of Economic Opportunity.
The September estimate represents 358,000 Floridians considered out of work --- 17,000 fewer than in August --- from a workforce of 10.2 million. Florida remained below the national unemployment rate, which decreased 0.2 percentage points from August to September, putting it at 3.9 percent.
Jacksonville's unemployment rate fell to 2.8 percent in September, down from 3.5 percent in August and 3.7 percent for the same time period in 2017, according to the same report.
Florida was one of nine states reporting a month-to-month drop, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Four states --- Colorado, Wyoming, Maine and North Dakota --- went up, while 37 states reported no change. Florida’s monthly figures were driven by gains in fields such as health care and leisure and hospitality.
The state recorded losses in fields such as manufacturing, wholesale trade and real estate. Across Florida, the Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin metropolitan statistical area continued to hold the lowest regional unemployment rate at 2.4 percent, down from 2.9 percent in August.
Panama City, expected to face changes after being hit by Hurricane Michael on Oct. 10, joined the Gainesville and Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford regions at 2.7 percent for September.
At the other end of the unemployment rates, the retirement community of The Villages, which is its own listed metro area, and Homosassa Springs, were each at 4.3 percent.
The statewide unemployment rate is a seasonally adjusted number, while the local numbers are not seasonally adjusted.
WJCT News contributed to this report.
