Contact: Laura Byrnes, APR, CPRC
Communications Manager
352-291-5999 | 352-816-1264
[email protected]
OCALA, Fla. (March 16, 2020) – The unemployment rate in the CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion region was 4.1 percent in January 2020, up 0.7 percentage point over the month and 0.9 percentage point lower than the region’s rate a year ago.
The labor force was 202,474, an increase of 2,085 over the year. There were 8,291 unemployed in the region, an increase of 1,379 since December.
Compared to December 2019, the number of people working in the region fell by 235, but over the year employment increased by 3,762 when the unemployment rate was 5.0 percent.
According to January’s preliminary jobs report released today by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Levy County maintained the lowest jobless rate in the region at 3.7 percent, up 0.7 percentage point over the month; Marion County followed with a rate of 3.9 percent, an increase of 0.7 percent; and Citrus County’s rate was 4.9 percent, 0.8 percentage point more than December 2019.
Florida’s not seasonally adjusted jobless rate – a measure that matches the way local rates are calculated – is 3.0 percent, a increase of 0.5 percentage points over the month and down from 3.8 percent a year ago.
“These are not seasonally adjusted rates, so we see the impact of holiday staffing and other seasonal reductions,” said Rusty Skinner, CareerSource CLM’s CEO. “Looking at the bigger picture, we see a drop in the unemployment rate of almost 1 percent over the year. This represents a better picture of our economic progress.”
Here’s a snapshot of each county’s jobs numbers for January:
Citrus County’s labor force rose by 324 over the month to 47,285, the number of employed fell by 60 to 45,957 while the number of unemployed increased by 384 to 2,328. Compared to January 2019, when the jobless rate was 5.9 percent, the labor force has condensed by 86, there are 364 more employed and a decrease of 450 who are unemployed.
Levy County’s labor force rose by 100 to 16,806, the number of those with jobs decreased by 18 to 16,190, and the number of unemployed expanded by 118 to 616. That’s an over-the-year increase of 65 in the labor force, 206 more working and drop of 141 unemployed compared to when the rate was 4.5 percent.
Marion County’s labor force swelled by 720 to 138,383, the number of those with jobs dropped by 157 to 133,036 and the number of unemployed increased by 877 to 5,347. Compared to January 2019 when the rate was 4.7 percent, the labor force has expanded by 2,106; there are 3,192 more employed and 1,086 fewer unemployed.
Nonfarm employment in January 2020 for the Ocala/Marion County metropolitan statistical area was 107,600, an increase of 1,700 jobs over the year for a growth rate of 1.6 percent.
The Homosassa Springs MSA’s nonfarm employment was 33,300, a decrease of 100 jobs (-0.3 percent) over the year.
Industries that grew faster in the Ocala metro than statewide over the year were mining, logging, and construction, 500 new jobs for a total of 8,700 jobs (+6.1 percent); manufacturing, 400 new jobs for a total of 9,400 jobs (+4.4 percent); and government, an increase of 400 new jobs for a total of 15,600 (+2.6 percent).
Education and health services also gained jobs over the year, with 300 new jobs for a total of 19,000 jobs (+1.6 percent); trade, transportation, and utilities added 200 new jobs for a total of 24,900 jobs (+0.8 percent); and leisure and hospitality adding 100 jobs for a total of 13,500 (+0.7 percent).
The information and professional business services industries, with 600 and 9,100 jobs respectively, lost 100 jobs each over the year.
The financial activities and other services industries were unchanged over the year.
In January 2020, unemployment rates increased in 66 of Florida’s 67 counties, and decreased in one.
Citrus County has the second highest rate; Marion County tied with Dixie, St. Lucie and Calhoun counties with the 11th highest rate; and Levy County tied with Glades, Holmes, Indian River, and Polk counties with the 16th highest rate.
Among the metro areas, the Homosassa Springs/Citrus County MSA has the highest rate and the Ocala MSA held with the fourth highest rate.
February’s preliminary employment summary will be released on March 27.
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