Overview of the CareerSource Heartland Region
Not Seasonally Adjusted September 17, 2021
- The unemployment rate in the CareerSource Heartland region (DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, and Okeechobee counties) was 5.7 percent in August 2021. This rate was 1.1 percentage points lower than the region’s year ago rate of 6.8 percent. The labor force was 78,891, up 5,742 (+7.8 percent) over the year. There were 4,478 unemployed residents in the region.
- DeSoto County had the lowest unemployment rate (4.3 percent) in the CareerSource Heartland region followed by Okeechobee County (4.9 percent), Hardee County (6.0 percent), and Highlands County (6.5 percent).
- Employment by industry in the CareerSource Heartland region totaled 54,996 jobs in March 2021 (the latest available data). Industry employment decreased by -1.4 percent over the year.
- The annual job growth rates for construction (+13.4 percent); professional and business services (+3.4 percent); and trade, transportation, and utilities (+0.3 percent) exceeded those of the state.
- The CareerSource Heartland region’s industry employment decreased by 774 jobs over the year in March 2021. Three of the 11 industries added jobs over the year. The industry that gained the most jobs was construction (+436 jobs).
- The industry with the largest job loss over the year was leisure and hospitality (-318 jobs).
- In August 2021 nonagricultural employment in the Sebring MSA was 25,500, an increase of 1,100 jobs (+4.5 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) | Aug-21 | Jul-21 | Aug-20 |
|---|---|---|---|
| CareerSource Heartland | 5.7 | 6.0 | 6.8 |
| DeSoto County | 4.3 | 4.8 | 5.2 |
| Hardee County | 6.0 | 6.9 | 7.0 |
| Highlands County | 6.5 | 6.8 | 8.0 |
| Okeechobee County | 4.9 | 5.2 | 5.6 |
| Florida | 5.0 | 5.1 | 8.0 |
| United States | 5.3 | 5.7 | 8.5 |
| Florida Employment by Industry Covered by Unemployment Compensation (not seasonally adjusted) | Mar-21 | Mar-20 | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Employment | 8,709,114 | 8,978,144 | -269,030 | -3.0 |
| Natural Resources and Mining | 77,294 | 78,833 | -1,539 | -2.0 |
| Construction | 572,419 | 570,394 | 2,025 | 0.4 |
| Manufacturing | 380,007 | 385,804 | -1,797 | -0.5 |
| Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 1,790,490 | 1,797,830 | -7,340 | -0.4 |
| • Wholesale Trade | 351,265 | 355,237 | -3,972 | -1.1 |
| • Retail Trade | 1,072,521 | 1,095,306 | -22,785 | -2.1 |
| • Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities | 366,704 | 347,287 | 19,417 | 5.6 |
| Information | 134,110 | 137,387 | -3,277 | -2.4 |
| Financial Activities | 602,270 | 593,806 | 8,464 | 1.4 |
| Professional and Business Services | 1,414,804 | 1,389,701 | 25,023 | 1.8 |
| Education and Health Services | 1,319,043 | 1,341,736 | -22,693 | -1.7 |
| Leisure and Hospitality | 1,068,468 | 1,265,554 | -197,086 | -15.6 |
| Other Services | 261,925 | 282,100 | -20,175 | -7.2 |
| Government | 1,078,122 | 1,110,094 | -31,972 | -2.9 |
| 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 | 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 |
