ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida’s unemployment rate fell last month, but state economists are warning that the improvement may not last.
The state’s unemployment rate dropped to 4.5%, according to the latest data. That represents about 502,000 unemployed Floridians in a workforce of more than 11 million people.
Despite the month-to-month decline, Florida’s unemployment rate remains above the 4.1% national average.
The state’s rate is also 0.5 percentage points higher than it was a year ago, a sign that the labor market is facing some pressure compared with the same time last year.
State economists are watching the numbers closely and are concerned unemployment could begin to rise again later this year.
For now, the latest figures show a slight improvement, but the year-over-year increase and the gap between Florida and the national rate remain areas to watch as the state’s economy moves through the rest of the year.
Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2026 Cox Media Group
