FloridaCommerce Announces Pensacola Metro Area Private Sector Employment Up 2,900 Jobs Over the Year in August 2024
PENSACOLA, Fla. — Today, FloridaCommerce announced that private sector employment in the Pensacola metro area increased by 2,900 jobs (+1.7%) over the year in August 2024. The industry sector gaining the most jobs was education and health services, which added 1,000 positions.
The unemployment rate in the Pensacola area was reported at 3.7% for August 2024, reflecting a 0.4 percentage point increase from August 2023's rate of 3.3%. The labor force in the region decreased by 0.5%, or 1,302 individuals, over the same period.
Statewide, Florida’s private sector job growth continues to surpass the national average with a growth rate of 2.1% since August 2023 compared to the national rate of 1.4%. This performance is attributed to strategic investments in workforce education and development aimed at fostering high-demand, high-wage jobs beneficial to both job seekers and employers.
Florida’s statewide unemployment rate stands at 3.3%, nearly one percentage point lower than the national rate of 4.2%. This marks the state's unemployment rate being below the national average for 46 consecutive months. Employers across Florida have added jobs in all but two of the last fifty-two months, with private sector job growth rates exceeding national figures for forty-one consecutive months.
In August 2024 alone, Florida saw significant job gains within various sectors: leisure and hospitality added 7,300 jobs (+0.6%) from July; education and health services followed with an addition of 3,900 jobs (+0.3%). Additionally, Florida’s labor force grew by approximately 7,000 individuals (+0.1%) over the year since August 2023.
Governor Ron DeSantis has designated September as Workforce Development Month. Since his tenure began in 2019, Florida has invested more than $8.5 billion into workforce education initiatives.
Key investments include:
- Nearly $400 million allocated towards workforce and infrastructure for the semiconductor industry since 2022.
- Over $200 million directed towards creating and expanding Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs through Workforce Development Capitalization Grant Program.
- More than $257 million awarded via the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund to support public infrastructure and workforce education opportunities.
These investments have resulted in:
- A rise of registered apprentices by approximately forty-five percent.
- A forty percent increase in apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs.
- A one hundred ten percent increase in apprenticeable occupations.
Florida also maintains top rankings nationally:
- #1 in talent development.
- #1 in higher education.
- #1 economy according to U.S News & World Report and CNBC.
- #1 in new business formations with over three million new businesses since January of this year alone totaling four hundred twenty-four thousand new businesses formed already within this calendar year alone..
With an annual GDP nearing $1.6 trillion dollars making it rank sixteenth largest economy globally if considered independently.. Job creators continue demonstrating confidence through their ongoing investments generating high-skill/high-wage employment opportunities ensuring economic resilience/success long-term Floridians’ benefit generations come...
Resources available assisting those seeking employment include:
EmployFlorida – Connecting job seekers/employers/training/education resources...
CareerSourceFlorida – Offering tailored career counseling/skills assessments/resume assistance/job placement support...
ApprenticeFlorida – Partnership between Department Education/CareerSource expanding apprenticeship programs statewide...
VeteransFlorida – Assisting military veterans transitioning civilian life connecting them employers eager hire based skills gained during service time spent serving country...
MilitaryFamilyEmploymentAdvocacyProgram – Providing priority workforce services active-duty military spouses/family members via Military Family Employment Advocates located local career centers throughout state...
Data indicates availability multiple job postings online currently numbering four hundred five thousand plus... Those seeking work encouraged utilize CareerSource network help registering EmployFlorida/searching listings/improving employability/perfecting resumes/interviewing skills establishing career goals pursuing customized training services provided free charge...
For further information regarding regional reports or accessing full dataset please visit www.floridajobs.org/labor-market-information/labor-market-information-press-releases/monthly-press-releases
Visit Insight platform additional insights/explanations provided video tutorials guiding users understanding interpreting data accurately/effectively...
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