Overview of the CareerSource Heartland Region
Not Seasonally Adjusted April 16, 2021
• The unemployment rate in the CareerSource Heartland region (DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands,
and Okeechobee counties) was 5.3 percent in March 2021. This rate was 1.3 percentage point(s) lower than the region’s year-ago rate of 6.6 percent. The region’s March 2021 unemployment rate was equal to the state rate of 5.3 percent. The labor force was 78,804, down 341 (-0.4) over the year. There were 4,182 unemployed residents in the region.
• DeSoto County and Okeechobee County had the lowest unemployment rate (4.4 percent) in the
CareerSource Heartland region followed by Hardee County (5.2 percent), and Highlands County (6.2
percent).
• Employment by industry in the CareerSource Heartland region totaled 52,276 jobs in September
2020 (the latest available data). Industry employment decreased by -3.2 percent over the year.
• The annual job growth rates for construction (+2.8 percent) and trade, transportation, and utilities (+1.1 percent) exceeded those of the state.
• The CareerSource Heartland region’s industry employment decreased by 1,753 jobs over the year in September 2020. Two of the 11 industries added jobs over the year. The industry that gained the most jobs was trade, transportation, and utilities (+123 jobs).
• In March 2021 nonagricultural employment in the Sebring MSA was 25,600, a decrease of 500 jobs
(-1.9 percent) over the year.
| Unemployment Rates (%) (not seasonally adjusted) | Mar-21 | Feb-21 | Mar-21 |
|---|---|---|---|
| CareerSource Heartland | 5.3 | 5.0 | 6.6 |
| DeSoto County | 4.4 | 4.1 | 5.8 |
| Hardee County | 5.2 | 5.0 | 7.2 |
| Highlands County | 6.2 | 5.9 | 7.5 |
| Okeechobee County | 4.4 | 4.1 | 5.1 |
| Florida | 5.3 | 5.1 | 5.0 |
| United States | 6.2 | 6.6 | 4.5 |
| CareerSource Heartland Region Employment by Industry Covered by Unemployment Compensation (not seasonally adjusted) | Sep-20 | Sep-19 | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Employment | 52,276 | 54,029 | -1,753 | -3.2 |
| Natural Resources and Mining | 4,692 | 4,733 | -81 | -1.7 |
| Construction | 3,318 | 3,227 | 91 | 2.8 |
| Manufacturing | 1,681 | 1,766 | -85 | -4.8 |
| Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 11,153 | 11,030 | 123 | 1.1 |
| • Wholesale Trade | 1,092 | 1,210 | -118 | -9.8 |
| • Retail Trade | 8,068 | 7,785 | 283 | 3.6 |
| • Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities | 1,993 | 2,035 | -42 | -2.1 |
| Information | 317 | 341 | -24 | -7.0 |
| Financial Activities | 1,559 | 1,658 | -99 | -6.0 |
| Professional and Business Services | 3,902 | 4,000 | -98 | -2.5 |
| Education and Health Services | 9,131 | 9,678 | -547 | -5.7 |
| Leisure and Hospitality | 5,157 | 5,982 | -825 | -13.8 |
| Other Services | 1,122 | 1,201 | -79 | -6.6 |
| Government | 10,238 | 10,359 | -121 | -1.2 |
| Florida Employment by Industry Covered by Unemployment Compensation (not seasonally adjusted) | Sep-20 | Sep-19 | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Employment | 8,341,549 | 8,845,793 | -504,244 | -5.7 |
| Natural Resources and Mining | 65,547 | 61,240 | 4,307 | 7.0 |
| Construction | 558,903 | 568,284 | -9,381 | -1.7 |
| Manufacturing | 372,595 | 383,964 | -11,369 | -3.0 |
| Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 1,726,928 | 1,779,099 | -52,171 | -2.9 |
| • Wholesale Trade | 338,208 | 336,089 | -13,819 | -3.9 |
| • Retail Trade | 1,051,769 | 1,090,983 | -39,214 | -3.6 |
| • Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities | 336,951 | 336,089 | 862 | 0.3 |
| Information | 128,333 | 137,129 | -8,796 | -6.4 |
| Financial Activities | 584,178 | 586,822 | -2,644 | -0.5 |
| Professional and Business Services | 1,346,957 | 1,390,765 | -43,808 | -3.1 |
| Education and Health Services | 1,279,833 | 1,325,434 | -45,601 | -3.4 |
| Leisure and Hospitality | 941,298 | 1,230,399 | -289,101 | -23.5 |
| Other Services | 248,291 | 278,595 | -30,304 | -10.9 |
| Government | 1,081,500 | 1,095.684 | -14,184 | -1.3 |
| Population | 2019 | 2018 | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CareerSource Heartland | 213,327 | 211,123 | 2,204 | 1.0 |
| DeSoto County | 38,001 | 37,368 | 633 | 1.7 |
| Hardee County | 26,937 | 27,168 | -231 | -0.9 |
| Highlands County | 106,221 | 104,933 | 1,288 | 1.2 |
| Okeechobee County | 42,168 | 41,654 | 514 | 1.2 |
| Florida | 21,477,737 | 21,244,317 | 233,420 | 1.1 |
| Average Annual Wage | 2019 | 2018 | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CareerSource Heartland | $36,404 | $35,437 | $967 | 2.7 |
| DeSoto County | $37,921 | $36,488 | $1,433 | 3.9 |
| Hardee County | $35,948 | $34,934 | $1,014 | 2.9 |
| Highlands County | $35,661 | $34,555 | $1,106 | 3.2 |
| Okeechobee County | $37,225 | $37,077 | $148 | 0.4 |
| Florida | $51,744 | $50,092 | $1,652 | 3.3 |
Note: All data are subject to revision.
Source: Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Bureau of Workforce Statistics and Economic Research.
