Overview of the CareerSource Heartland Region
Not Seasonally Adjusted October 16, 2020
• The unemployment rate in the CareerSource Heartland region (DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands,
and Okeechobee counties) was 5.4 percent in September 2020. This rate was 1.4 percentage point
higher than the region’s year ago rate of 4.0 percent. The region’s September 2020 unemployment
rate was 2.2 percentage point lower than the state rate of 7.6 percent. The labor force was 75,959,
down 200 (-0.3) over the year. There were 4,099 unemployed residents in the region.
• DeSoto County had the lowest unemployment rate (4.0 percent) in the CareerSource Heartland
region followed by Okeechobee County (4.6 percent), Hardee County (5.5 percent), and Highlands
County (6.3 percent).
• Employment by industry in the CareerSource Heartland region totaled 55,770 jobs in March 2020
(the latest available data). Industry employment decreased by -1.0 percent over the year.
• The annual job growth rates for manufacturing (+7.4); natural resources and mining (+0.4
percent); other services (+2.2 percent); and government (+0.7 percent) equaled or exceeded those of
the state.
• The CareerSource Heartland region’s industry employment decreased by 542 jobs over the year in
March 2020. Six of the 11 industries added jobs over the year. The industries that gained the most
jobs included: manufacturing (+123 jobs) and government (+73 jobs).
• In September 2020 nonagricultural employment in the Sebring MSA was 26,000, an increase of
200 jobs (+0.8 percent) over the year.
| Unemployment Rates (%) (not seasonally adjusted) | Sep-20 | Aug-20 | Sep-19 |
|---|---|---|---|
| CareerSource Heartland | 5.4 | 5.7 | 4.0 |
| DeSoto County | 4.0 | 4.2 | 3.3 |
| Hardee County | 5.5 | 5.8 | 5.2 |
| Highlands County | 6.3 | 6.7 | 4.3 |
| Okeechobee County | 4.6 | 4.9 | 3.4 |
| Florida | 7.6 | 7.6 | 2.9 |
| United States | 7.7 | 8.5 | 3.3 |
| CareerSource Heartland Region Employment by Industry Covered by Unemployment Compensation (not seasonally adjusted) | Mar-20 | Mar-19 | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Employment | 55,770 | 56,312 | -542 | -1.0 |
| Natural Resources and Mining | 5,861 | 5,835 | 26 | 0.4 |
| Construction | 3,252 | 3,225 | 77 | 0.8 |
| Manufacturing | 1,784 | 1,661 | 123 | 7.4 |
| Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 11,267 | 11,448 | -181 | -1.6 |
| • Wholesale Trade | 1,102 | 1,224 | -122 | -10.0 |
| • Retail Trade | 8,062 | 8,253 | -191 | -2.3 |
| • Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities | 2,103 | 1,971 | 132 | 6.7 |
| Information | 352 | 366 | -14 | -3.8 |
| Financial Activities | 1,650 | 1,649 | 1 | 0.1 |
| Professional and Business Services | 3,991 | 4,277 | -286 | -6.7 |
| Education and Health Services | 9,666 | 9,700 | -34 | -0.4 |
| Leisure and Hospitality | 6,229 | 6,558 | -329 | -5.0 |
| Other Services | 1,295 | 1,267 | 28 | 2.2 |
| Government | 10,364 | 10,291 | 73 | 0.7 |
| Florida Employment by Industry Covered by Unemployment Compensation (not seasonally adjusted) | Mar-20 | Mar-19 | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Employment | 8,978,144 | 8,897,958 | 80,186 | 0.9 |
| Natural Resources and Mining | 78,833 | 79,570 | -737 | -0.9 |
| Construction | 570,394 | 559,518 | 10,876 | 1.9 |
| Manufacturing | 385,804 | 381,343 | 4,461 | 1.2 |
| Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 1,797,830 | 1,788,026 | 9,804 | 0.5 |
| • Wholesale Trade | 355,237 | 351,185 | 4,052 | 1.2 |
| • Retail Trade | 1,095,306 | 1,106,604 | -11,298 | -1.0 |
| • Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities | 347,287 | 330,273 | 17,050 | 5.2 |
| Information | 137,387 | 138,759 | -1,372 | -1.0 |
| Financial Activities | 593,806 | 579,200 | 14,606 | 2.5 |
| Professional and Business Services | 1,389,781 | 1,376,612 | 13,169 | 1.0 |
| Education and Health Services | 1,341,736 | 1,315,978 | 25,758 | 2.0 |
| Leisure and Hospitality | 1,265,554 | 1,281,287 | -15,733 | -1.2 |
| Other Services | 285,100 | 283,240 | -1,140 | -0.4 |
| Government | 1,110,094 | 1,102,115 | 7,979 | 0.7 |
| 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 | $36,405 | $35,437 | $968 | 2.7 |
| DeSoto County | $37,961 | $36,488 | $1,473 | 4.0 |
| Hardee County | $35,949 | $34,934 | $1,015 | 2.9 |
| Highlands County | $35,651 | $34,555 | $1,096 | 3.2 |
| Okeechobee County | $37,225 | $37,077 | $148 | 0.4 |
| Florida | $51,761 | $50,092 | $1,669 | 3.3 |
Note: All data are subject to revision.
Source: Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Bureau of Workforce Statistics and Economic Research.
