FloridaCommerce Announces the Fort Lauderdale Area April 2024 Employment Data

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Today, FloridaCommerce announced the Fort Lauderdale area's labor force increased by 18,549, an increase of 1.7 percent over the year in April 2024. The industry gaining the most jobs over the year was trade, transportation, and utilities, increasing by 6,700 jobs. In April 2024, the Fort Lauderdale metro area led all metro areas in job gains over the year in government (+4,500 jobs); and other services (+3,400 jobs).

The Fort Lauderdale area unemployment rate was 3.1 percent in April 2024, up 0.7 percentage point from the April 2023 rate of 2.4 percent. The area's private sector employment increased by 2.3 percent (+18,700) over the year in April 2024.

Florida's private sector jobs increased by 2.5 percent (+210,900) over the year compared to the national rate of 1.6 percent over the same time period. In April 2024 the trade, transportation, and utilities sector gained the most jobs among all major industries, adding 14,900 jobs (+0.7 percent) from March 2024, followed by professional and business services, adding 11,800 jobs (+0.7 percent).

Job creators continue to demonstrate great confidence in Florida's economic ecosystem through their investments, creating high-skill, high-wage jobs that make Florida a more competitive state to live and work in. Florida offers hundreds of workforce education and workforce development opportunities for job seekers to gain the skills they need to compete in such an elevated and more competitive job market, ensuring economic resiliency and success for generations of Floridians to come.

Florida's statewide unemployment rate was 3.3 percent in April 2024, 0.6 percentage point below the national rate of 3.9 percent. Florida's unemployment rate has remained below the national rate for 42 consecutive months. Under Governor Ron DeSantis' leadership, Florida has made strategic investments in workforce development that have resulted in Florida ranking:

• #1 state in the nation for higher education
• #1 state in the nation for talent development
• #1 state in the nation for entrepreneurship

  Strategic Investments in Workforce Development:

• Since 2019, Florida has invested more than $8 billion in workforce education, including another $75 million for public infrastructure and workforce training investments through the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund and another $100 million through the Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive Grant for fiscal year 2024-2025.
• The 2021 REACH Act has made Florida the national leader in the cross-agency coordination of workforce education and training programs.
• Florida has seen tremendous growth in registered apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs, and Apprentice Florida, a partnership between the Florida Department of Education, FloridaCommerce and CareerSource Florida, encourages and assists businesses in establishing apprenticeships and educates individuals about pursuing careers through apprenticeships.

  Resources for Job Seekers:

• Florida's Labor Exchange Marketplace, Employ Florida, connects job seekers to employment, training and education, and also job creators to skilled talent.
• CareerSource Florida 's network local career centers offer tailored career counseling, skills assessments, resume assistance and job placement support.

• Veterans Florida works to help military veterans transition to civilian life - connecting veterans with employers who are eager to hire veterans for jobs that align with the skills their gained serving in the military.
• The Military Family Employment Advocacy Program delivers priority workforce services to active-duty military spouses and family members through Military Family Employment Advocates located in local career centers throughout Florida.
• $5,000 bonuses are available to in state and out-of-state law enforcement recruits through the Florida Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Payment Program, a first-of-its-kind program administered by FloridaCommerce to attract quality candidates to join Florida law enforcement agencies in protecting and serving their local communities.

Data in the month of April continues to indicate there are many job opportunities available for every Floridian who wants to work, with more than 421,000 jobs posted online. Floridians in search of work and new job opportunities can utilize the CareerSource Florida network for help. Floridians can find guidance on how to register with Employ Florida and search listings of available local job openings. Career seekers also can improve their employability by perfecting resume writing and interviewing skills, establishing career goals, and pursuing customized career training. These services are provided at no cost to job seekers.

To view the April 2024 jobs reports by region, please see below:

To view April 2024 employment data, visit: www.floridajobs.org/labor-market-information/labor-market-information-press-releases/monthly-press-releases.

Visit Florida Insight for more information on labor market and economic data. Additionally, the Department has provided a video to assist users in explaining the data provided through Florida Insight.

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