OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion region maintained a steady jobless rate of 4.7% in November, mirroring October’s rate and reflecting a workforce adjusting to year-end economic factors. This rate is 0.7 percentage points higher than November 2023, with 10,174 unemployed residents across the region.
Preliminary data from FloridaCommerce revealed a regional labor force of 216,827, a decline of 2,250 from October and 3,123 compared to November 2023. Employed residents numbered 206,653, representing monthly and yearly decreases of 2,246 and 4,516, respectively.
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Rusty Skinner, CEO of CareerSource CLM, highlighted the workforce’s resilience amid national and local shifts. “National election cycles often cause blips in workforce statistics… (the) overall data shows October and November as a relatively stable workforce,” Skinner noted.
Marion County recorded the lowest unemployment rate in the region at 4.4%, followed by Levy County at 4.5%, while Citrus County’s rate edged up to 5.6%.
Nonfarm employment in the Ocala Metropolitan Statistical Area grew by 900 jobs (+0.7%) over the year, driven by gains in industries such as Mining, Logging, and Construction (+600 jobs) and Education and Health Services (+400 jobs). Meanwhile, the Homosassa Springs MSA added 300 jobs (+0.8%), with Government jobs leading the growth.
Skinner emphasized CareerSource CLM’s commitment to workforce development, offering fee-free services and training to enhance job seekers’ competitiveness as they prepare for 2025.
The December 2024 jobs report will be released on Jan. 17, 2025.