Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) and the State of Florida are celebrating the 45th consecutive month of jobs growth with an unemployment rate lower than the national average. The month of July demonstrated a statewide unemployment rate of 3.3%, one point lower than the national average (4.3%). The Sunshine State’s private sector growth rate reached +2.3% over the year compared to a 1.5% rate nationally.
Gov. DeSantis, who has been governor throughout the entire 45-month stretch, shared that with “better leadership” the United States could follow in Florida’s footsteps.
“Florida proves the economy can fare better with better leadership,” said Gov. DeSantis. “If Washington reversed course and followed Florida’s lead, families and small businesses across America would be better off.”
Moreover, the leisure and hospitality sector alongside the construction sector, respectively, grew the most in terms of jobs in the seventh month of 2024. The former added 11,200 jobs while construction added 6,300 jobs. Florida added 35,000 workers over the year since July 2023.
Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly said that Florida is the “number one ecosystem” for job development on the globe.
“The federal government’s indecisive and fiscally irresponsible policies— including the decision of the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates high— continue to cause chaos,” said Secretary Kelly. “Florida is the number one ecosystem for job creation in the world, continuing to instill confidence in job creators and job seekers with smart fiscal policies and economic stability, and is attracting record numbers of visitors to our state.”
The counties with the lowest unemployment rates include Monroe (2.4%), Miami-Dade (3.1%), and Gulf (3.3%). The counties with the highest rates include Hendry (6.6%), Citrus (5.9%), and Sumter (5.7%).
All 24 metro areas of the Sunshine State experienced over-the-year growth in the private sector as nine of 10 major industries experienced positive over-the-year job growth in July.
The industries gaining jobs over the year included trade, transportation, and utilities (+55,100 jobs, +2.8 percent); education and health services (+39,600 jobs, +2.7 percent); construction (+36,700 jobs, +5.8 percent); leisure and hospitality (+34,500 jobs, +2.7 percent); total government (+28,000 jobs, +2.5 percent); other services (+16,000 jobs, +4.4 percent); professional and business services (+14,400 jobs, +0.9 percent); manufacturing (+4,600 jobs, +1.1 percent); and financial activities (+1,200 jobs, +0.2 percent). The only industry losing jobs over the year was information (-900 jobs, -0.6 percent).
An impressive streak of progress for the conservative governor and the State of Florida.
