December 2024 | Released January 28, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In December, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 7, rose in 25, and remained unchanged in 19.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.

• In December, payroll jobs rose in 43 states and fell in 7. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.2 percent in Vermont.

Florida Employment Snapshot

• In December, Florida added 18,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.4 percent. In the prior month, Florida added 46,700 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Florida added 147,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points from 3.1 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. Florida is tied for 23rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In December, Florida’s private sector added 17,900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 122,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Florida added 44,000 net private payroll jobs.

• In December, employment in Florida fell by 7,526, and over the past 12 months it fell by 91,593.

• Florida’s labor force participation rate fell to 58 percent in December from 58.2 percent and ranks 46th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.5 percentage points.

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Florida Payroll Employment

• Florida added 18,000 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Florida added 46,700 jobs. Florida nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. Florida is tied for 23rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Florida added 17,900 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Florida added 44,000 jobs. Florida private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 223,000 jobs in December, or 0.2 percent. Florida is tied for 23rd in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during December were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (4,400) and Professional and Business Services (3,900).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Education and Health Services (-400) and Manufacturing (-900).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (30,900) and Leisure and Hospitality (29,500).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Financial Activities (-4,900) and Manufacturing (-6,300).

Florida Labor Force

The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.

• The labor force participation rate in Florida fell to 58 percent in December from 58.2 percent in the prior month.

• Florida ranks 46th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Florida was 59.7 percent occurring in September 2023, and the 10-year low was 53.8 percent in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate remained steady at 62.5 percent in December.