Unemployment remains low across SWFL, Collier leads in adding jobs

Southwest Florida's job count continues to grow.

The region's three metros – made up of Collier, Lee and Charlote counties – added 8,300 nonagricultural jobs over the year in March, bringing their combined total to 544,200.

The latest monthly report by the Florida Department of Commerce, released Friday, shows of the three counties, Collier gained the most jobs – at 4,000.

Comparatively, Lee picked up 3,400, and Charlotte added 900.

"Jobs are still available. Businesses are still looking for employees," said Amy Hanna-Eckenrode, communications director for CareerSource Southwest Florida .

CareerSource matches job seekers with employers in the five-county region that includes Collier, Lee and Charlotte.

"It's a strong workforce. The number of nonagricultural jobs continues to go up, while the unemployment rate has been pretty steady," Hanna-Eckenrode noted.

Southwest Florida's labor force increased by 6,287 over the year. That included 2,773 new workers in Lee and 3,514 in Collier.

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What was the region's unemployment rate?

In March, the region's jobless rate rose slightly to 3.4%, up from 3.3% a month earlier. A year ago, it stood at just 2.9%.

Anything at or under 4% is considered to be "full employment," meaning that anyone who wants a job can generally find one.

Regionally, Collier had the lowest unemployment rate in March – at 3.1%

Here's how the other counties stacked up:

• Lee: 3.4%
• Charlotte: 3.8%
• Glades: 4.1%
• Hendry: 4.8%

What sectors are adding the most jobs?

In the three metro areas, the industries gaining the most jobs over the year were construction (+3,500), government (+2,200), and trade, transportation and utilities (+1,700 jobs).

Two industries shed jobs: leisure and hospitality (-400) and professional and business services (-100).

Lee and Charlotte both lost jobs in leisure and hospitality, while Collier gained 800.

Asked about the gains in Collier, Hanna-Eckenrode said they're likely due, in part, to hiring for the new Great Wolf Lodge South Florida, east of Naples. Slated to open on Sept. 25, the lodge, with an indoor water park, will rank as one of the county's largest private employers in the tourism sector, with 600 employees.

Jason Bays, general manager of Great Wolf Lodge South Florida, said hiring is going well.

"Our current hiring focus is primarily on leadership roles at the resort," he said. "While we’ve filled a number of leadership positions, we still have additional leadership and management roles available. Hiring across all departments, including management, engineering, culinary, guest services, attractions, lifeguards and housekeeping, is expected to accelerate once we move closer to opening."

Other sectors adding jobs in Collier over the year in March included construction (800), trade, transportation and utilities (600), private education and health services (600), and government (400).

No industries lost jobs in the county.

Across Southwest Florida, there were about 23,000 unemployed residents in March. That included 6,046 in Collier, 13,050 in Lee and 2,992 in Charlotte.

More: Long-anticipated workforce housing could be under construction by summer in Golden Gate

How many jobs did Florida gain?

Statewide, the private sector added 179,800 jobs over the year. That equated to a growth rate of 2.3%, compared a national rate of 1.7%

Florida's employers have added jobs in 45 of the last 47 months since May 2020.

In March, the national unemployment stood at 3.8%, 0.6 percentage points higher than Florida's rate of 3.2% (seasonally adjusted).

There were 353,000 jobless Floridians, out of a labor force of nearly 11.1 million, with 444,000-plus available jobs posted online statewide.

Florida's jobless rate has been lower than the nation's for 41 months in a row.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Unemployment remains low across SWFL, Collier leads in adding jobs