OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The jobless rate in the CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion (CLM) region rose to 5.1% in June, marking a 0.6 percentage point increase from May and a 0.5 point jump from a year ago.

Seasonal Spike in Unemployment

According to FloridaCommerce’s June employment data, the region’s labor force grew slightly to 233,422. However, the number of employed residents dropped by 562 from May, and the number of unemployed rose to 11,958—an increase of 1,464 in one month.

Dale French, executive vice president of CareerSource CLM, called the uptick “June gloom,” pointing to predictable summer patterns.

“We see this every year with education personnel out for the summer and college students returning home looking for work,” French said. “Typically, we return to pre-summer rates by September or October.”

County-by-County Breakdown

  • Marion County: Unemployment rose to 4.9%, up from 4.3% in May. The labor force grew to 160,118, but the number of employed dropped by 504.
  • Citrus County: Jobless rate climbed to 5.8%, with 3,168 unemployed—a 384-person increase from May.
  • Levy County: Continued to have the lowest rate in the region at 4.6%, though still up 0.5 percentage points from last month.

Statewide, Florida’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.9% in June.

Job Fair in Ocala

To help those seeking employment, CareerSource CLM will host a Summer Job Fair on Thursday, July 24, from 5–7 p.m. at the Howard Academy Community Center in Ocala. The event is free and open to all job seekers in and around the region. More than 20 local employers with immediate job openings are expected to participate.

Regional and State Rankings

Citrus County recorded the third highest jobless rate among Florida’s 67 counties for the third straight month. Marion County tied for 13th highest, while Levy County improved to 28th.

The Ocala metro area maintained the fifth highest jobless rate statewide, while the Homosassa Springs metro area (Citrus County) had the second highest. Wildwood and The Villages led the state at 6.9%.

Bright Spots in Job Growth

Despite rising unemployment, the Ocala MSA added 2,000 jobs over the year. Government jobs grew by 6.2%, the fastest rate in the state. Growth was also reported in Education and Health Services, Other Services, and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities.

The next regional employment update will be released on Friday, Aug. 15.

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