Jacksonville’s jobless rate fell in September for the second straight month after unemployment reached a post-coronavirus pandemic high in July.
The unemployment rate in the Jacksonville metropolitan area of Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties fell from 3.6% in August to 3.4% in September, the Florida Department of Commerce reported Oct. 18.
Unemployment peaked at 3.8% in July, its highest level since September 2021.
Non-farm employers in Northeast Florida added 2,900 jobs in September and increased employment by 16,000 since September 2023, a 2% growth rate.
All five counties in the metro area recorded a drop in unemployment in September, with Duval County’s rate falling from 3.8% in August to 3.5%, the highest rate among the counties.
St. Johns County had the lowest rate at 3.2%, with Baker and Nassau both at 3.3% and Clay at 3.4%.
Florida’s statewide unemployment was unchanged in September at a seasonally adjusted 3.4%. The monthly surveys of the labor market are conducted in the middle of the month, so the September survey was done before Hurricanes Helene and Milton affected some Florida communities.
The Department of Commerce does not adjust local area data for seasonal factors in its monthly reports.
Jacksonville’s 2% annual job growth rate in September was higher than August’s rate of 1.7%.
The biggest job gains came in the private education and health services sector, which added 5,900 jobs in the past year, a 4.7% gain.
Accommodation and food services grew by 3,100 jobs, or 4.1%.
On a percentage basis, the wholesale trade sector saw the biggest rise at 6.7% as it gained 2,000 jobs.
Construction was also strong with an addition of 2,900 jobs or 5.7%.
The only significant job losses in the past year were in the financial activities sector, which declined by 1,800 jobs, or 2.4%.
The only other major sector to lose jobs was professional and business services, which fell by 600, or 0.5%.
Jacksonville’s job growth rate was slightly below Florida’s statewide growth of 2.1%.