The unemployment rate in the metro Orlando area (Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties) was 10.2 percent in September, down 0.2 percent from 10.4 the previous month, and down 1.4 percent a year ago. The metro Orlando jobless rate was 0.4 percentage point lower than the state average of 10.6 percent. Out of a labor force of 1.1 million, there were 114,961 unemployed residents.
Orange County’s unemployment rate was 10.1 percent, declining from 10.4 percent in August, and down 1.5 percent from the 11.6 percent one year ago. Osceola County, whose unemployment rate remained unchanged from 11.3 percent the month before, was the highest of the counties comprising the metro Orlando area.
Seminole had the lowest jobless rate at 9.5 percent, declining by 0.1 percent from the 9.6 posted in August. Lake County’s unemployment was 10.6 percent, down by 0.3 percent from the 10.9 percent in August 2011.
In the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford Metro area (Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties) nonagricultural employment was just slightly more than 1 million, an increase of 1.2 percent from one year ago.
The metro area gained 11,900 jobs over the year, with leisure and hospitality accounting for 12,200 job gains. Other industries gaining jobs included, education and health services (+3,100 jobs), professional and business services (+2,000 jobs), and government (+700 jobs).
The industries losing jobs were mining, logging and construction (-3,000 jobs), trade, transportation and utilities (-1,200 jobs); financial activities (-900 jobs); information (-500 jobs); manufacturing (-400 jobs); and other services (-100 jobs).
Compared to other metro areas in Florida, the metro Orlando area led the state in over-the-year job gains in leisure and hospitality.
State-wide, the jobless rate in September fell to 10.6 percent, a 0.1 percent point drop from August, but still well above the national unemployment rate of 9.1 percent.
Florida experienced a net gain of 23,300 jobs in September, nonetheless, some 977,000 residents remain out of work.
