Media Contact:
Laura Byrnes, APR, CPRC
Director of Communications
O: 352.291.9559 | M: 352.816.1264
[email protected]
OCALA, Fla. (Sept. 16, 2022) – The unemployment rate in the CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion region was 3.6% in August, the same as the previous month and 1.6 percentage points lower than the region’s year ago rate of 5.2%. The labor force was 209,938, up 3,120 (+1.5%) over the year. There were 7,560 unemployed residents in the region.
According to preliminary employment data released by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, there were 202,378 employed across the region an increase of 6,365 compared to the same time last year. The number of unemployed was 3,245 fewer than in August 2021 when the jobless rate was 5.2%.
“The overall trend is positive; compared to 2021, all three counties show expansions of the labor force and employment. These factors drive a reduction in the number and percentage of our citizens that are unemployed,” said Rusty Skinner, CareerSource CLM’s chief executive officer.
Levy County continued to post the lowest unemployment rate in the region (3.2%) down 0.1 percentage point over the month and percentage point lower than the previous August, followed by Marion County (3.5%), the same as in July and down percentage point over the year, and Citrus County (4.2%), also the same in July and a drop of 1.7 percentage point compared to August 2021.
Skinner noted that while the unemployment rate is lower than prior to the onset of the pandemic – with fewer people out of work and more employed – area businesses are expanding and focused on hiring. He pointed out that CareerSource CLM will hold a general job fair on Thursday, Sept. 22 from 3-5 p.m. at the College of Central Florida Klein Conference Center. There is no charge to attend the job fair which, to date, features 25 top businesses all with immediate positions to fill.
Additionally, Skinner said that the return of students to school should prompt employers seeking talent to begin to think about talent as a building block for their companies.
“Students entering their junior and senior years offer employers a unique opportunity to build long-term employment relationships that will provide solid employees for the future development of their companies,” he said. “Working together with our school districts, CareerSource CLM can help recruit your future workforce. Not only can we assist with those preparing to enter the world of work, we partner on Youth Career Expos that provide early career awareness to students in the eighth and ninth grades.”
Information about job fairs, hiring events and other candidate and business services are available at careersourceclm.com.
State and local employment reports for September 2022 are scheduled for release on Oct. 21, 2022.
For more details, access DEO’s employment summary for the region here: August 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 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.