July jobless rate up slightly

The jobless rate in the CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion region was 4.9% in July, up 0.4 percentage point over the month and 0.9 percentage point greater than the region’s 2023 rate of 4.1%. The labor force was 219,011, virtually unchanged over the year. There were 10,831 unemployed residents in the region, an increase of 887 compared to June and up 1,872 over the year.

According to data released by FloridaCommerce and shared in a news release from CareerSource CLM, there were 208,180 employed across the region, down 922 since June and 1,968 fewer than the same time last year.

Levy County continued to post the lowest jobless rate in the region at 4.4%, up 0.3 percentage point over the month and greater than the year ago rate of 3.9%. Marion County followed with 4.7%, also up 0.3 percentage point compared to June and greater than the year ago rate of 3.9%. Citrus County reported a 5.9% unemployment rate, an increase of 0.7 percentage point over the month and up from the year ago rate of 4.8% over the year.

“This month’s report shows an expanding labor force in Marion and Levy counties, driven by workers who are newly entering the workforce or those re-entering the workforce,” said Rusty Skinner, CareerSource CLM’s chief executive officer in the release.

Skinner noted that last month more than 130 job seekers attended a Summer Job Fair in Ocala, along with 20 businesses. On Aug. 27, there will be a Citrus County Job Fair from 3-5 p.m. at the College of Central Florida’s campus in Lecanto. Additional events include the Marion County Fall Job Fair in September and the annual Paychecks for Patriots in November.

“These job fairs offer an array of opportunities and strong support by employers,” said Skinner, adding that all hiring events are free and open to anyone in the three-county region.

To learn more, go to careersourceclm.com or call 800-434-JOBS (5627).