Summer slump felt as jobless rates rise in region

The jobless rate in the CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion region was 4.5% in June, up 0.7 percentage point over the month and 0.5 percentage point greater than the region’s year ago rate of 4.0%. The labor force was 219,052, down 1,219 (-0.6%) over the year. There were 9,947 unemployed residents in the region, an increase of 1,602 compared to May and up 1,143 over the year.

According to preliminary employment data released July 19 by FloridaCommerce, there were 209,105 employed across the region, down by 300 since May and 2,362 fewer than the same time last year, as noted in the CareerSource CLM press release.

Levy County continued to post the lowest jobless rate in the region at 4.1%, up from 3.6% over the month and year. Marion County followed with 4.4%, also up from 3.6% over the year and 3.8% in June 2023. Citrus County reported a 5.2% unemployment rate, an increase from 4.5% in May and 4.6% over the year.

Marion County’s labor force was 151,668, an increase of 989 over the month and 365 fewer over the year. There were 145,035 employed, a decrease of 148 compared to May and down 1,150 compared to the same time last year. The county had 6,633 unemployed in June, 1,137 more than the previous month and 785 more than in June 2023.

Rusty Skinner, CareerSource CLM’s chief executive officer, noted in the release that the bump in the jobless rate and number counted as unemployed is in line with what the region typically experiences moving into the summer months with seasonal shifts in education support and agriculture employment, as well as an influx of post-secondary students returning to the area looking for summer jobs before going back to school. Skinner said it tracks similar upticks statewide with increases over the month in 67 counties; the rate also increased in 66 counties compared to June 2023.

“What we’re experiencing at this time of year is a typical summer slump; it is not unique to our region nor to any other area in Florida for that matter,” he said. “That doesn’t mean we take our foot off the gas; we know businesses are eager to hire, which is why we strive to connect them with those looking for work.”

In June, nonfarm employment in the Ocala Metropolitan Area, which covers all of Marion County, was 120,300, an increase of 1,600 jobs over the year for a 1.3% growth rate over the year. Industries gaining jobs over the year were Education and Health Services, which added 700 jobs; Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+600 jobs); Mining, Logging, and Construction (+500 jobs); Other Services (+200 jobs); Government (+200 jobs); and Leisure and Hospitality (+100 jobs).

Other Services, with a 5.4% growth rate; Mining, Logging and Construction (+5.3%); and Education and Health Services (+3.5%) industries grew faster in the Ocala metro area than statewide over the year.

Industries losing jobs were Manufacturing (-300 jobs): Professional and Business Services (-200 jobs); Information (-100 jobs) and Financial Activities (-100 jobs).

Information about job fairs, hiring events and other services is available at careersourceclm.com or by calling 800-434-JOBS (5627).