The unemployment rate in the Central Florida region (Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and Sumter counties) was 5.5 percent in December 2013, the lowest since May 2008 when it was 5.2 percent, Florida Department of Economic Opportunity announced Friday. Out of a labor force of 1,193,386, there were 65,719 unemployed residents in the region.
Osceola County’s unemployment rate was the highest of the counties at 6.2%. The unemployment rates in the other counties were: 6.0 percent in Lake County, 5.4 percent in Orange County, and 5.1 percent in both Sumter and Seminole Counties.
The metro area gained 32,300 jobs over the year with all major industries gaining jobs and leisure and hospitality adding the most, 8,100 jobs.
Statewide, Florida’s unemployment rate for December was 6.2%.
