Overview of the CareerSource Heartland Region
Not Seasonally Adjusted April 15, 2022
- The unemployment rate in the CareerSource Heartland region (DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, and Okeechobee counties) was 3.2 percent in March 2022. This rate was 2.1 percentage points lower than the region’s year ago rate of 5.3 percent. The region’s March 2022 unemployment rate was 0.5 percentage point higher than the state rate of 2.7 percent. The labor force was 77,208, up 601 (+0.8 percent) over the year. There were 2,437 unemployed residents in the region.
- DeSoto County had the lowest unemployment rate (2.3 percent) in the CareerSource Heartland region followed by Okeechobee County (2.7 percent), Hardee County (2.9 percent), and Highlands County (3.9 percent).
- Employment by industry in the CareerSource Heartland region totaled 54,190 jobs in September 2021 (the latest available data). Industry employment increased by +3.7 percent over the year.
- The annual job growth rates for construction (+12.2 percent) and professional and business services (+9.8 percent) exceeded those of the state.
- The CareerSource Heartland region’s industry employment increased by 1,946 jobs over the year in September 2021. Nine of the 11 industries added jobs over the year. The industry that gained the most jobs was leisure and hospitality (+636 jobs).
- The industry with the largest job loss over the year was government (-214 jobs).
- In March 2022 nonagricultural employment in the Sebring MSA was 25,300, a decrease of 200 jobs (-0.8 percent) 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) | Jan-22 | Dec-21 | Jan-21 |
|---|---|---|---|
| CareerSource Heartland | 4.1 | 3.3 | 6.4 |
| DeSoto County | 3.1 | 2.4 | 5.1 |
| Hardee County | 3.8 | 2.9 | 6.0 |
| Highlands County | 4.9 | 3.9 | 7.7 |
| Okeechobee County | 3.4 | 2.9 | 5.1 |
| Florida | 3.5 | 2.9 | 6.1 |
| United States | 4.4 | 3.7 | 6.8 |
| Florida Employment by Industry Covered by Unemployment Compensation (not seasonally adjusted) | Sep-21 | Sep-20 | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Employment | 8,908,507 | 8,337,197 | 571,310 | 6.9 |
| Natural Resources and Mining | 65,672 | 62,324 | 3,348 | 5.4 |
| Construction | 577,913 | 559,455 | 18,458 | 3.3 |
| Manufacturing | 389,360 | 372,379 | 16,981 | 4.6 |
| Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 1,831,303 | 1,726,092 | 105,211 | 6.1 |
| • Wholesale Trade | 356,736 | 338,469 | 18,267 | 5.4 |
| • Retail Trade | 1,090,466 | 1,052,867 | 37,599 | 3.6 |
| • Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities | 384,101 | 334,756 | 49,345 | 14.7 |
| Information | 141,399 | 128,284 | 13,115 | 10.2 |
| Financial Activities | 619,533 | 584,047 | 35,486 | 6.1 |
| Professional and Business Services | 1,475,355 | 1,346,072 | 129,283 | 9.6 |
| Education and Health Services | 1,321,207 | 1,279,702 | 41,505 | 3.2 |
| Leisure and Hospitality | 1,144,560 | 941,253 | 203,307 | 21.6 |
| Other Services | 265,004 | 250,454 | 14,550 | 5.8 |
| Government | 1,071,383 | 1,080,288 | -8,905 | -0.8 |
| Population | 2020 | 2019 | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CareerSource Heartland | 214,278 | 212,658 | 1620 | 0.8 |
| DeSoto County | 38,520 | 37,821 | 699 | 1.8 |
| Hardee County | 26,822 | 26,806 | 16 | 0.1 |
| Highlands County | 106,639 | 105,890 | 749 | 0.7 |
| Okeechobee County | 42,297 | 42,141 | 156 | 0.4 |
| Florida | 21,733,312 | 21,492,056 | 241,256 | 1.1 |
| Average Annual Wage | 2020 | 2019 | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CareerSource Heartland | $38,946 | $36,404 | $2,542 | 7.0 |
| DeSoto County | $40,762 | $37,921 | $2,841 | 7.5 |
| Hardee County | $37,751 | $35,948 | $1,803 | 5.0 |
| Highlands County | $37,906 | $35,661 | $2,245 | 6.3 |
| Okeechobee County | $40,597 | $37,225 | $3,372 | 9.1 |
| Florida | $55,845 | $51,744 | $4,101 | 7.9 |
