OCALA, FL (352today.com) — The unemployment rate in the CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion (CLM) region rose slightly in February to 4.9%, up 0.1 percentage point from January and 0.7 percentage point higher than the same time last year.
According to preliminary data from FloridaCommerce:
- The region’s labor force was 233,004, down 858 from January but up 3,290 year-over-year.
- Employed residents totaled 221,640, a decrease of 907 over the month, but up 1,536 from February 2024.
- Unemployed residents totaled 11,364, nearly unchanged month-to-month (+49), but up 1,754 from last year.
County-Specific Highlights:
- Levy County
- Jobless rate: 4.4%, unchanged since January.
- Labor force: 19,322 (+128 over the month).
- Employed: 18,472 (+121), Unemployed: 850 (+7).
- Marion County
- Jobless rate: 4.7% (+0.1 percentage point from January).
- Labor force: 159,834 (down 778).
- Employed: 152,400 (down 858), Unemployed: 7,434 (+80).
- Citrus County
- Jobless rate: 5.7%, down 0.1 percentage point from January.
- Labor force: 53,848 (down 208).
- Employed: 50,768, Unemployed: 3,080.
Statewide Comparison:
- Florida’s unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) held steady at 3.7%.
Metro Area Job Growth:
- Ocala MSA: 124,600 nonfarm jobs (+2,300 / +1.9%).
- Homosassa Springs MSA: 36,200 jobs (+400 / +1.1%).
- Both MSAs tied for fastest Government job growth (+700 and +200 jobs respectively).
Rusty Skinner, CareerSource CLM CEO, noted, “February’s employment picture for Citrus and Marion counties indicates a continuation of the post-holiday slow-down, while Levy shows a modest growth.”