FloridaCommerce has released the employment data for the Orlando metro area for February 2025. The announcement noted that the Orlando area gained the highest number of private sector jobs over the past year among all metro areas. The area’s private sector employment increased by 27,300 jobs, marking a 2.0% growth, and the labor force increased by 23,985, a 1.6% rise, compared to the previous year.
Specific sectors contributing to job growth included leisure and hospitality with 7,300 jobs, education and health services with 5,500 jobs, government with 3,200 jobs, financial activities with 2,700 jobs, and professional and business services with 2,400 jobs. Despite the employment gains, the region experienced an increase in its unemployment rate, reaching 3.6% in February 2025, up from 3.1% in February 2024.
The release included information about the state’s manufacturing sector, which added 1,400 jobs in February 2025, reaching a total of 432,000 jobs, the highest since 2002. Florida, boasting 27,310 manufacturing establishments, has seen a 32% increase since the first quarter of 2019. The state reports that jobs have been added in 55 of the last 58 months since May 2020.
Moreover, Florida’s private sector employment rose by 7,200 jobs over the month and by 105,700 jobs over the year, with the state’s growth rate surpassing the national rate in 44 of the last 47 months since April 2021. Florida’s unemployment rate has consistently been below the national average for more than four years, since November 2020, largely due to sustained performance in industries such as construction, which added 5,500 jobs in February 2025.
The announcement also highlighted the various resources available for job seekers in Florida, including the Labor Exchange Marketplace, Employ Florida, and the CareerSource Florida network, which offers career counseling and job placement support. In addition, the Apprentice Florida program aims to expand apprenticeships, while Veterans Florida and the Military Family Employment Advocacy Program focus on career transitions for veterans and their families.
Despite challenges, employment opportunities remain abundant, with nearly 455,000 jobs available online, and job seekers are encouraged to utilize state resources to improve job qualifications and find employment. For additional insights and specific regional employment data, FloridaCommerce has made more detailed reports available.
