Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Florida’s labor force surpassed 11.1 million in January 2025, highlighting the state’s economic growth. Job increases were seen across most major sectors, including manufacturing, which reached 430,800 jobs.
Revised data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows Florida’s labor force is larger than previously estimated, with an increase of 162,000 workers. This indicates that the state’s labor force has grown or remained stable in 10 of the past 12 months.
“Florida continues to prove that leadership and conservative fiscal policies drive success,” stated Governor Ron DeSantis. “We will keep the momentum going by insisting on reducing government spending, continuing to eliminate bureaucracy, and finding more tax reductions for Floridians.”
In January 2025 alone, Florida added 113,600 jobs (+1.3%) over the year. The private sector job growth rate was at 1.3%, surpassing the national rate of 1.2%. The statewide unemployment rate has been below the national average for 51 consecutive months since November 2020.
“Under Governor DeSantis’ decisive leadership, Florida continues to generate wins,” commented Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly. “These revised numbers demonstrate Florida’s unique resiliency and the strength and efficacy of Governor DeSantis’ approach to economic and workforce development—creating an environment that promotes future growth and builds confidence in job seekers and job creators.”
The education and health services sector saw a significant increase by adding 7,200 jobs (+0.5%) from the previous month; leisure and hospitality followed closely with an addition of 6,100 jobs (+0.5%).
Several resources are available for job seekers in Florida:
– Employ Florida connects individuals to employment opportunities.
– CareerSource Florida provides career counseling and placement support.
– Apprentice Florida expands apprenticeship programs.
– Veterans Florida assists military veterans transitioning to civilian life.
– The Military Family Employment Advocacy Program offers workforce services to military families.
– The Military Spousal License Reciprocity Matrix aids military spouses with professional license transfers.
– The Talent Pipeline Portal supports careers within aerospace and defense industries.
January data suggests there are ample job opportunities available with over 393,000 positions posted online. Floridians can access various services through CareerSource Florida network to enhance their employability at no cost.
For regional job reports or more detailed employment data for January 2025 across cities like Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami among others, residents are encouraged to visit relevant platforms such as Florida Insight.
