Clay lost 5 jobs in May, but workforce grew by 876

BY DAN HILDEBRAN

ClayCivic.com Publisher

The unemployment rate in Clay County increased by 0.4 percentage points in May, increasing from 2.2% in April to 2.6% the following month.

The increase was driven by gains in the workforce rather than job losses. Clay County netted a decrease in five jobs during May while its workforce grew by 876.

Florida’s Department of Economic Opportunity said the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the state was 2.6% in May 2023, unchanged from the April 2023 rate and down 0.3 percentage points from a year ago.

“There were 287,000 jobless Floridians out of a labor force of 10,998,000,” the state agency said. “The U.S. unemployment rate was 3.7 percent in May.”

Monroe County had the state’s lowest unemployment rate at 1.7%, followed by Miami-Dade at 2.2% and Okaloosa and Gulf counties at 2.3% each.

Hendry County had the highest unemployment rate of 4.1 percent, followed by Highlands:  4.0%, Citrus: 3.9%, and Hamilton, Putnam, and Sumter counties: 3.7% each.

Statewide, the most significant job losses came in state government educational services, losing 8,100 positions.

The healthcare sector experienced the most significant employment increase, with 10,600 new jobs in Florida during May.