The Pensacola metropolitan area’s education and health services sector added 1,000 jobs over the year in July 2025, according to data released by FloridaCommerce. Over the same period, the private sector in Pensacola increased by 200 jobs, marking a 0.1% growth.
Despite these gains, the overall labor force in Pensacola declined by 0.8%, with 1,930 fewer participants compared to July of last year. The region’s unemployment rate rose to 4.4% in July 2025 from 3.9% a year earlier.
At the state level, Florida saw an increase of 7,300 jobs during July. Private sector employment statewide grew by 118,900 positions—a rise of 1.4% over the past year—reinforcing Florida’s standing as a leading economic state.
Statewide job growth has outpaced national rates for most months since April 2021. The financial activities sector led job gains in July with an addition of 5,200 positions, followed by leisure and hospitality and government sectors, each adding 1,600 jobs.
Florida employers have expanded payrolls in all but four months since May 2020. The state’s unemployment rate stood at 3.7% in July and has remained below the national average for nearly five years.
Job seekers have access to several resources including Employ Florida, which matches candidates with available jobs and training opportunities; CareerSource Florida's local centers offering counseling and placement support; Apprentice Florida's apprenticeship expansion initiatives; Veterans Florida for military-to-civilian transition assistance; and specialized programs for military families such as license reciprocity and workforce advocacy.
There were more than 408,000 open positions posted online statewide as of July. Floridians seeking work are encouraged to use CareerSource Florida services free of charge for help with resumes, interview skills, goal setting, and customized training.
Reports on regional employment data—including those for Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Pensacola, Southwest Florida, Tampa, and West Palm Beach—are available online along with broader labor market insights through Florida Insight.
"FloridaCommerce announced that the Pensacola metro area education and health services sector added 1,000 jobs over the year in July 2025."
"The Pensacola metro area added 200 jobs (+0.1%) in the private sector over the year in July 2025."
"The Pensacola area labor force was down 0.8% (-1,930) over the year in July 2025."
"The Pensacola area’s unemployment rate was 4.4% in July 2025, a 0.5 percentage point increase from the July 2024 rate of 3.9%."
"FloridaCommerce announced that Florida’s employment continues to increase, adding 7,300 jobs over the month in July 2025."
"Florida’s total private sector employment increased by 118,900 (+1.4%) over the year in July 2025..."
"Florida’s private sector job growth rate has exceeded the national rate for 50 of the last 52 months since April 2021."
"The industries that gained the most jobs in July 2025 were the financial activities sector...leisure and hospitality...and government..."
"As of July 2025...employers have added jobs in 59 of the last 63 months since May 2020."
"Florida’s statewide unemployment rate was 3.7 percent...lower than national rate for 57 consecutive months since November 2020."