Media Contact:
Laura Byrnes, APR, CPRC
Director of Communications
O: 352.291.9559 | M: 352.816.1264
[email protected]
OCALA, Fla. (Dec. 16, 2022) – The jobless rate in the CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion region was 3.4% in November, unchanged over the last two months and 0.4 percentage points lower than the region’s year ago rate of 3.8%. The labor force was 209,324, up 3,438 (+1.7%) over the year. There were 7,094 unemployed residents in the region, a dip of 36 compared to October and 765 fewer than November 2021.
According to preliminary employment data released today by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, there were 202,230 employed across the region, an increase of 4,203 compared to the same time last year.
Levy County continued to post the lowest unemployment rate in the region at 2.9%, again unchanged over the month and 0.5 percentage point lower than the previous November. Marion County followed at 3.2%, the same as the adjusted rate for October also 0.5 percentage point lower over the year. Citrus County’s rate was 4.1%, up just 0.1 percentage point over the month 0.2 percentage point lower than the year-ago rate.
Rusty Skinner, CareerSource CLM’s chief executive officer, said the preliminary data may point to a tightening labor market as the region continues post-pandemic economic recovery.
“The reality is, today we have more people employed in our region than we did before Covid hit,” Skinner said, noting that the number of employed is 16,000 higher than five years ago, and there are 2,637 fewer unemployed.
“We really don’t see a lot of involuntary unemployment right now,” Skinner said. “For businesses growing and eager to hire but struggling to find workers with the skills they need for the job, we can help with programs that offset hiring and training costs such as On-the-Job Training, paid adult interns and work experience trainees.”
Information about training grants, fee-free job fairs, hiring events and other job seeker and employer services are available at careersourceclm.com or by calling 800-434-JOBS (5627).
State and local employment reports for December 2022 are scheduled for release on Jan. 20, 2023.
For more details, access DEO’s employment summary for the region here: November 2022 Employment Overview
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Looking for a New Career? Here’s Help
CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion offers in-person job fairs, hiring events, workshops and facilities for job searches, training grants for eligible candidates, career development and one-on-one consulting – all at no charge to those seeking employment. Call 800-434-JOBS (5627) or visit careersourceclm.com to learn more. Career Centers are open for self-service and in-person assistance weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Searching for New Hires?
CareerSource CLM also provides fee-free services to help build and sustain businesses in today’s challenging marketplace. Services include recruitment, assessment, screening, and referrals of qualified job candidates; logistics, coordination, and promotion of customized hiring events; and grants and incentives for training new hires and existing employees. Call 800-746-9950 to learn more.
CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion is a member of CareerSource Florida and a proud partner of the American Job Center network. CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion is supported by the U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and other agencies as part of awards totaling $8.2 million (revised annually). Unless otherwise stipulated, all statements, news releases, requests for proposals, bid solicitations and other applicable documents are fully funded from federal sources. CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities and in Spanish. All voice telephone numbers listed above may be reached by persons using TTY/TDD equipment via the Florida Relay Service at 711. If you need accommodations, call 800-434-5627, ext. 7878 or e-mail [email protected]. Please make request at least three business days in advance. Stay connected with CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn.