Jacksonville\u2019s unemployment rate fell sharply in December, a normal seasonal trend as businesses add staff for the holiday season, but job growth slowed in the region.<\/p>\n
The unemployment rate in the Jacksonville metropolitan area of Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties fell from 5.1% in November to 4.6% in December, the Florida Department of Commerce reported Jan. 23.<\/p>\n
The 5.1% November rate was the highest since it was also 5.1% in January 2021, when the economy was recovering from the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n
The Department of Commerce does not adjust local area data for seasonal factors, such as holiday hiring, in its monthly reports.<\/p>\n
The agency said Florida\u2019s statewide unemployment, without adjustment, fell by 0.5 percentage points to 4.4% in December. But when seasonally adjusted, the rate edged up by 0.1 point to 4.3%.<\/p>\n
The rate in all five counties in the Jacksonville area dropped sharply in December without seasonal adjustment, with Duval and Clay counties falling to 4.7% and Baker, Nassau and St. Johns at 4.5%.<\/p>\n
While the unemployment rate fell, nonagricultural employers in the Jacksonville metro area added just 5,600 jobs from December 2024 through December 2025, a 0.7% growth rate.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s down from a 1.3% growth rate in the 12 months through November.<\/p>\n
The biggest growth sector in Northeast Florida was the category of private education and health services, which added 9,300 jobs in the 12 months through December, a 6.9% increase.<\/p>\n
However, that was offset by declines in several sectors.<\/p>\n
The trade, transportation and utilities sector lost 2,900 jobs, a 1.6% decline.<\/p>\n
The administrative and support and waste management and remediation services sector lost 1,500 jobs, or 2.8%, and the finance and insurance sector fell by 500 jobs, or 0.8%.<\/p>\n
While job growth was slow in the Jacksonville area, it was better than Florida\u2019s statewide growth rate of 0.4% in December. The national growth rate was also 0.4%.<\/p>\n
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