Overview of the CareerSource Heartland Region
Not Seasonally Adjusted.
- May 16, 2025
Labor market Data updated:
April 17, 2026
(Date above this date is erroneous)
- The unemployment rate in the CareerSource Heartland region (DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, and Okeechobee counties) was 6.2 percent in February 2026. This rate was 1.6 percentage points greater than the region’s year ago rate of 4.6 percent. The region’s February 2026 unemployment rate was 1.4 percentage points above the state rate of 4.8 percent. The labor force was 76,915, up 425 (+0.6 percent) over the year. There were 4,804 unemployed residents in the region.
- Hardee County had the lowest unemployment rate (5.5 percent) in the CareerSource Heartland region followed by Okeechobee County (5.6 percent), DeSoto County (6.1 percent), and Highlands County (6.8 percent).
- Employment by industry in the CareerSource Heartland region totaled 57,340 jobs in September 2025 (the latest available data). CareerSource Heartland region’s employment decreased by 494 jobs (-0.9 percent) over the year.
- The Other Services (+5.5 percent); Manufacturing (+4.7 percent); Government (+2.1 percent); Professional and Business Services (+2.0 percent); and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+0.2 percent) industries grew faster in the region than statewide over the year.
- The industries gaining jobs over the year were Government (+219 jobs); Professional and Business Services (+99 jobs); Manufacturing (+84 jobs); Other Services (+74 jobs); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+19 jobs); and Leisure and Hospitality (+11 jobs).
- The industries losing jobs over the year were Natural Resources and Mining (-506 jobs); Education and Health Services (-253 jobs); Construction (-84 jobs); and Information (-43 jobs).
- The Financial Activities industry was unchanged in jobs over the year.
Sebring Metro Area:
- In February 2026, nonagricultural employment in the Sebring MSA was 28,700, with no change over the year.
- The Government (+2.1 percent) industry grew faster in the metro area than statewide over the year.
- The Sebring MSA had the fastest annual job growth rate compared to all the metro areas in the state in the Government (+2.1 percent) industry.
- The Government (+100 jobs) industry gained jobs over the year.
Note: All data are subject to revision.
Source: Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Bureau of Workforce Statistics and Economic Research.
| Unemployment Rates (%) (not seasonally adjusted) | Feb-26 | Jan-26 | Feb-25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| CareerSource Heartland | 6.2% | 6.5% | 4.6% |
| DeSoto County | 6.1% | 6.2% | 4.5% |
| Hardee County | 5.5% | 5.8% | 4.0% |
| Highlands County | 6.8% | 7.0% | 5.1% |
| Okeechobee County | 5.6% | 5.9% | 4.1% |
| Florida | 4.8% | 4.9% | 3.5% |
| United States | 4.7% | 4.7% | 4.5% |
| Florida Employment by Industry Covered by Unemployment Compensation (not seasonally adjusted) | Sep-25 | Sep-24 | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Employment | 9,833,037 | 9,835,477 | -2,440 | 0.0 |
| Natural Resources and Mining | 58,851 | 61.191 | -2,340 | -3.8 |
| Construction | 653,194 | 652,702 | 492 | -0.1 |
| Manufacturing | 423,987 | 427,544 | -3,557 | -0.8 |
| Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 1,957,691 | 1,964,884 | -7,193 | -0.4 |
| • Wholesale Trade | 394,935 | 395,627 | -692 | -0.2 |
| • Retail Trade | 1,132,863 | 1,143,089 | -10,226 | -0.9 |
| • Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities | 429,893 | 426,168 | 3,725 | 0.9 |
| Information | 150,034 | 155,908 | -5,874 | -3.8 |
| Financial Activities | 678,179 | 677,031 | 1,148 | 0.2 |
| Professional and Business Services | 1,605,532 | 1,617,083 | -11,551 | -0.7 |
| Education and Health Services | 1,580,295 | 1,529,920 | 50,375 | 3.3 |
| Leisure and Hospitality | 1,300,065 | 1,292,543 | 7,522 | 0.6 |
| Other Services | 298,288 | 296,103 | 2,185 | 0.7 |
| Government | 1,120,970 | 1,136,841 | -16,871 | -1.4 |
| Population | 2024 | 2023 | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CareerSource Heartland | 214,959 | 211,972 | 2,987 | 1.4 |
| DeSoto County | 36,744 | 36,274 | 470 | 1.3 |
| Hardee County | 26,068 | 25,944 | 124 | 0.5 |
| Highlands County | 109,778 | 108,151 | 1,627 | 1.5 |
| Okeechobee County | 42,369 | 41,603 | 766 | 1.8 |
| Florida | 23,372,215 | 22,904,868 | 467,347 | 2.0 |
| Average Annual Wage | 2024 | 2023 | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CareerSource Heartland | $48,192 | $46,300 | $1,892 | 4.1 |
| DeSoto County | $49,351 | $46,425 | $2,925 | 6.3 |
| Hardee County | $47,198 | $45,345 | $1,853 | 4.1 |
| Highlands County | $47,941 | $46,241 | $1,701 | 3.7 |
| Okeechobee County | $48,418 | $46,921 | $1,497 | 3.2 |
| Florida | $69,505 | $66.466 | $3,059 | 4.6 |
Note: All data are subject to revision.
Source: Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Bureau of Workforce Statistics and Economic Research.
