Media Contact:
Laura Byrnes, APR, CPRC
Director of Communications
O: 352.291.9559 | M: 352.816.1264
[email protected]

OCALA, Fla. (Jan. 20, 2023) – The jobless rate in the CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion region was 2.9% in December, a decrease of 0.5 percentage point over the month and over the region’s year ago rate of 3.4%. The labor force was 209,177, up 3,091 (+1.5%) over the year. There were 6,075 unemployed residents in the region, a dip of 993 compared to November.

According to preliminary employment data released today by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, there were 203,102 employed across the region, an increase of 4,035 compared to the same time last year.

Levy County continued to post the lowest unemployment rate in the region at 2.5%, a decrease of 0.4 percentage point over the month and 0.6 percentage point lower than the previous December. Marion County followed at 2.8%, a decrease of 0.4 percentage point over the month. Citrus County’s rate also saw a decrease at 3.5%, down 0.5 percentage point over the month.

Rusty Skinner, CareerSource CLM’s chief executive officer, said the preliminary data shows a common trend that is seen during the holiday months, an increase in employed populations due to seasonal job opportunities; however, the low jobless rates across the region and the state of Florida continues to show gains in post-pandemic economic recovery.

“We are continuing to see low jobless rates which is a boon to our economy,” Skinner said. “However, don’t be surprised to see that rate go up in the new year.”

“With there being more job opportunities than those that can fill them, there has never been a better time to be a job seeker” Skinner said. “We see a high need for specialized careers like welders, plumbers, and CDL drivers. In fact, our upcoming job fairs reflect that need.”

The American Welding Society Job Fair on Feb. 7 and the CDL Community Job Fair on Feb. 8 at Marion Technical College; as well as the Mega Job Fair on Feb. 23 at the College of Central Florida all focus on specialized skills and job opportunities in a range of industries.

Information about 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 January 2023 are scheduled for release on March 13, 2023.

For more details, access DEO’s employment summary for the region here: December 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 FacebookTwitterYouTube,  and LinkedIn

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