OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The tri-county area (Citrus, Levy and Marion) saw a slight rise in its unemployment rate this summer. The jobless rate in the region was 4% in July, up just 0.3% from last year. The labor force was 221,628, expanding by 7,232 for a 3.4% increase over the year.

Citrus County had the highest jobless rate of 4.6%, but Marion County had the most unemployed residents overall, with 5,883 total. Marion and Levy Counties tied with an unemployment rate of 3.8%. Compared to the whole state of Florida, though, all three counties have high rates of unemployment; the state rate was 3.1% this month.

This seasonal increase doesn’t come as a surprise. CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion (CLM) says unemployment rates usually go up as the summer winds down.

“The report shows the continued impact of summer workforce transitions – students graduating and other seasonal adjustments,” said Rusty Skinner, CareerSource CLM’s chief executive officer.

It’s not all on a downward trend, though. Certain business sectors in Marion County, including Information, Government and Other Services have been growing as fast or faster than the state average. So far this year, nonfarm employment across Marion County has increased by 2.1%, with 2,400 new jobs.

In Citrus County, nonfarm jobs increased even more, growing by 4.1% with 1,400 new jobs. Government jobs also grew faster than the rest of Florida.

Across the tri-county area, even more industries are on the rise this year: Education and Health Services; Trade, Transportation and Utilities; Professional and Business Services; and Leisure and Hospitality. However, more hands-on industries like Logging and Construction, Mining, and Manufacturing have lost jobs in the region this year.

Even so, CareerSource CLM says there are many employment opportunities in the region. Job fairs are a great way to find work.

In Citrus County, there is an upcoming job fair on Aug. 31 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Realtor’s Association of Citrus County in Lecanto. In Marion County, there will be another job fair on Sept. 27 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the College of Central Florida’s Klein Conference Center in Ocala.

To see more details about employment rates in the tri-county area, check the Department of Commerce’s July 2023 Employment Overview.