Regional Statistics

Overview of the CareerSource Heartland Region

Not Seasonally Adjusted.

  • May 16, 2025

Labor market Data updated:

June 22, 2025

  • The unemployment rate in the CareerSource Heartland region (DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands,
    and Okeechobee counties) was 4.6 percent in May 2025. This rate was 0.6 percentage point
    greater than the region’s year ago rate of 4.0 percent. The region’s May 2025 unemployment
    rate was 1.1 percentage points above the state rate of 3.5 percent. The labor force was
    75,891, up 610 (+0.8 percent) over the year. There were 3,481 unemployed residents in the
    region.
  • Okeechobee County had the lowest unemployment rate (4.1 percent) in the CareerSource
    Heartland region followed by DeSoto County (4.2 percent), Hardee County (4.5 percent), and
    Highlands County (5.0 percent).
  • Employment by industry in the CareerSource Heartland region totaled 58,614 jobs in
    December 2024 (the latest available data). CareerSource Heartland region’s employment
    decreased by 690 jobs (-1.2 percent) over the year
  • The Manufacturing (+3.5 percent) and Government (+2.3 percent) industries grew faster in
    the region than statewide over the year
  • The industries gaining jobs over the year were Government (+237 jobs); Education and Health
    Services (+220 jobs); Manufacturing (+61 jobs); Construction (+56 jobs); and Leisure and
    Hospitality (+43 jobs)
  • The industries losing jobs over the year were Natural Resources and Mining (-524 jobs); Trade,
    Transportation, and Utilities (-406 jobs); Professional and Business Services (-145 jobs);
    Financial Activities (-131 jobs); Information (-3 jobs); and Other Services (-3 jobs).

Sebring Metro Area:

  • In May 2025, nonagricultural employment in the Sebring MSA was 29,100, an increase of 900
    jobs (+3.2 percent) over the year
  • In May 2025, nonagricultural employment in the Sebring MSA was 29,100, an increase of 900
    jobs (+3.2 percent) over the year
  • 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)
May-25Apr-25May-24
CareerSource Heartland 4.6%4.4%4.0%
DeSoto County4.2%4.1%3.7%
Hardee County4.5%4.3%4.0%
Highlands County5.0%4.8%4.5%
Okeechobee County4.1%3.9%3.4%
Florida3.5%3.5%3.1%
United States4.0%3.9%3.7%
Florida
Employment by Industry
Covered by Unemployment Compensation
(not seasonally adjusted)
Dec-24Dec-23Change% Change
Total Employment9,986,4359,885,409101,0261.0
Natural Resources and Mining67,26769,165-1,898-2.7
Construction 653,736639,88413,8522.2
Manufacturing428,141426,0542,0870.5
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities2,036,2892,033,0393,2500.2
• Wholesale Trade398,250397,1031,1470.3
• Retail Trade1,182,2431,182,0751680.0
• Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities455,796453,8611,9350.4
Information 157,138157,598-460-0.3
Financial Activities 682,880678,4804,4000.6
Professional and Business Services 1,633,3191,632,1201,1990.1
Education and Health Services 1,560,0921,502,60357,4893.8
Leisure and Hospitality 1,324,7641,302,04322,7211.7
Other Services 300,773293,3397,4322.5
Government 1,128,8051,123,3595,4460.5
Population20242023Change% Change
CareerSource Heartland 214,959211,9722,9871.4
DeSoto County36,74436,2744701.3
Hardee County26,06825,9441240.5
Highlands County109,778108,1511,6271.5
Okeechobee County42,36941,6037661.8
Florida23,372,21522,904,868467,3472.0
Average Annual Wage20242023Change% Change
CareerSource Heartland $48,186$46,300$2,2425.1
DeSoto County$49,346$46,425$1,0062.2
Hardee County$49,191$45,345$2,9336.9
Highlands County$47,936$46,241$2,6556.1
Okeechobee County$48,407$46,921$1,9204.3
Florida$69,492$66,447$2,6644.2

Note: All data are subject to revision.
Source: Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Bureau of Workforce Statistics and Economic Research.


“We are incredibly grateful for CareerSource Heartland. Their assistance has allowed us to provide more structured, formal training opportunities for our team, making it easier to onboard new apprentices and advance our existing workforce—both essential to our company’s growth. In a short time, their partnership has already made a significant impact, and we truly appreciate their commitment to workforce development. We look forward to working with them for many years to come!”

We truly mean that – thank you!

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Chelsea Bilukha

Office Manager

Testimonials: Central Contractors
Central Contractors

“We highly recommend using the CareerSource Heartland for any hiring events.”

 

Teresa Aviles
SEB Administrative Coordinator
GulfCoast Supply & Manufacturing

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Teresa Aviles
Gulf Coast

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“… I appreciate all the help from you (CareerSource Heartland) in a time when there was no hope…CareerSource Heartland drove in and fixed it like a superhero!  Thank you for all the hard work… This job fair hit big – our companies in Texas and Florida have been calls all morning asking me how did I make this happen?!  Even though I would like to take credit, it was all the work of our local career center.   I advised them to reach out to their community CareerSources, it is very much worth it. See you all very soon and thank you!”

Sincerely ,  Myesha Smith, Manager, Florida Pop, LLC, DBA Popeyes Chicken

Myesha Smith (Popeyes)
Popeyes Chicken

Anything I do say about the Career Source Heartland in Okeechobee will be very downplayed to the actual experience we encountered. Not only were they exceptional in helping us achieve our results for talented associates, but they were also well organized and on top of everything. Although I felt like I may be a burden they really went the extra mile to make me feel like part of their family and allowed me and my team to be ourselves and work closely together to make sure we were all very comfortable. Nothing I do or can say about them will ever amount to the wonderful experience I have had and will continue to have moving forward. They are the greatest resource in helping find you qualified candidates. With this being another store opening/market opening for me, this has by far been the easiest in terms of finding a staff. They help reduce the stress one may find when trying to find candidates to interview. I could keep going on how wonderful and great they were but it’s an experience and a great resource every business should try, they won’t regret it!!!!

 

Thank You

Andrew Stephens
TGM Okeechobee FL

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CareerSource Heartland helped me, I know that they can help you…

Roehl