Unemployment rate improves in August

The unemployment rate along the Forgotten Coast dropped in both Gulf and Franklin counties in August, putting them on par with the jobless rates posted one year ago.

According to preliminary data released last week by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Gulf County’s jobless rate dropped from 4.6 to 4.4 percent and is now tied with Bay, Broward, Jefferson and Okaloosa as seventh best in the state, a tad better than the Florida average and a whisker higher than the national average.

Franklin County’s jobless rate went from 5.3 to 5.1 percent, and is now tied with Collier, Escambia, Gilchrist and Pasco for right in the middle among the state’s 67 counties.

One year ago unemployment in Franklin was lower by one-tenth of 1 percentage point, while Gulf County was the same percentage of the workforce.

In August 2026 in Franklin County, 229 people remained on unemployment, three fewer than in July, while the workforce grew by 217 workers to 4,600.

In Gulf County, the workforce was at 6,476 workers, three more than in July and the jobless rolls dropped by 14 to 285.

One year ago, the labor force in Gulf was larger, at 6,452, while in Franklin, the workforce was smaller by 80 workers, at 4,520.

In August 2026, Miami-Dade County had the state’s lowest unemployment rate (2.7 percent), followed by Monroe County (3.3 percent), and Wakulla County (4.1 percent). Taylor County had the highest unemployment rate (8.2 percent), followed by Sumter County (7.9 percent), and Highlands County (6.8 percent).

Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.5 percent in August, down 0.1 percentage point from July and up 0.5 percentage point from a year ago. There were 502,000 jobless Floridians out of a labor force of 11.12 million. The U.S. seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in August.

Florida’s seasonally adjusted total nonagricultural employment was 10.05 million in August, an increase of 21,800 jobs (+0.2 percent) over the month. The state gained 59,000 jobs over the year, an increase of 0.6 percent. Nationally, the number of jobs rose 0.4 percent over the year.

Six of 10 major industries experienced positive over-the-year job growth in August.

The industries gaining jobs over the year were education and health services (+39,600 jobs, +2.5 percent), professional and business services (+25,200 jobs, +1.6 percent), leisure and hospitality (+11,600 jobs, +0.9 percent), manufacturing (+2,300 jobs, +0.5 percent), construction (+2,100 jobs, +0.3 percent), and trade, transportation, and utilities (+1,800 jobs, +0.1 percent).

The industries losing jobs over the year included financial activities (-14,300 jobs, -2.1 percent); total government (-4,900 jobs, -0.4 percent); information (-3,900 jobs, -2.6 percent); and other services (-900 jobs, -0.2 percent).

August Area Unemployment

Unemployment rate improves in August

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