Overview of the CareerSource Heartland Region
Not Seasonally Adjusted December 18, 2020
• The unemployment rate in the CareerSource Heartland region (DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, and Okeechobee counties) was 5.7 percent in November 2020. This rate was 2.0 percentage points higher than the region’s year-ago rate of 3.7 percent. The region’s November 2020 unemployment rate was 0.6 percentage points lower than the state rate of 6.3 percent. The labor force was 77,996, up 943 (+1.2) over the year. There were 4,469 unemployed residents in the region.
• DeSoto County had the lowest unemployment rate (4.4 percent) in the CareerSource Heartland region followed by Okeechobee County (4.9 percent), Hardee County (5.9 percent), and Highlands County (6.6 percent).
• Employment by industry in the CareerSource Heartland region totaled 52,122 jobs in June 2020 (the latest available data). Industry employment decreased by -0.8 percent over the year.
• The annual job growth rates for the government (+12.5); construction (+3.7 percent); and trade, transportation, and utilities (+1.1 percent) exceeded those of the state.
• The CareerSource Heartland region’s industry employment decreased by 420 jobs over the year in June 2020. Three of the 11 industries added jobs over the year. The industry that gained the most jobs was government (+1,003 jobs).
• In November 2020 nonagricultural employment in the Sebring MSA was 27,000, an increase of 200 jobs (+0.7 percent) over the year.
| Unemployment Rates (%) (not seasonally adjusted) | Nov-20 | Oct-20 | Nov-19 |
|---|---|---|---|
| CareerSource Heartland | 5.7 | 5.1 | 3.7 |
| DeSoto County | 4.4 | 3.9 | 3.3 |
| Hardee County | 5.9 | 5.1 | 4.3 |
| Highlands County | 6.6 | 5.9 | 4.1 |
| Okeechobee County | 4.9 | 4.4 | 2.9 |
| Florida | 6.3 | 6.3 | 2.7 |
| United States | 6.4 | 6.6 | 3.3 |
| CareerSource Heartland Region Employment by Industry Covered by Unemployment Compensation (not seasonally adjusted) | Jun-20 | Jun-19 | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Employment | 52,122 | 52,542 | -420 | -0.8 |
| Natural Resources and Mining | 5,249 | 5,282 | -33 | -0.6 |
| Construction | 3,331 | 3,212 | 119 | 3.7 |
| Manufacturing | 1,689 | 1,756 | -67 | -3.8 |
| Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 11,337 | 11,216 | 121 | 1.1 |
| • Wholesale Trade | 1,097 | 1,256 | -163 | -13.0 |
| • Retail Trade | 8,170 | 7,940 | 230 | 2.9 |
| • Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities | 2,074 | 2,020 | 54 | 2.7 |
| Information | 315 | 375 | -60 | -16.0 |
| Financial Activities | 1,572 | 1,675 | -103 | -6.1 |
| Professional and Business Services | 3,859 | 4,020 | -161 | -4.0 |
| Education and Health Services | 9,275 | 9,591 | -316 | -3.3 |
| Leisure and Hospitality | 5,334 | 6,169 | -835 | -13.5 |
| Other Services | 1,139 | 1,219 | -80 | -6.6 |
| Government | 9,015 | 8,012 | 1,003 | 12.5 |
| Florida Employment by Industry Covered by Unemployment Compensation (not seasonally adjusted) | Jun-20 | Jun-19 | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Employment | 8,122,659 | 8,727,702 | -605,133 | -6.9 |
| Natural Resources and Mining | 66,546 | 64,819 | 1,727 | 2.7 |
| Construction | 566,671 | 564,355 | 2,316 | 0.4 |
| Manufacturing | 372,868 | 384,714 | -11,864 | -3.1 |
| Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 1,706,026 | 1,778,116 | -72,090 | -4.1 |
| • Wholesale Trade | 338,779 | 352,110 | -13,331 | -3.8 |
| • Retail Trade | 1,036,325 | 1,095,225 | -58,900 | -5.4 |
| • Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities | 330,922 | 330,781 | 141 | 0.0 |
| Information | 125,909 | 139,313 | -13,409 | -9.6 |
| Financial Activities | 578,725 | 584,807 | -6,081 | -1.0 |
| Professional and Business Services | 1,317,677 | 1,386,485 | -68,808 | -5.0 |
| Education and Health Services | 1,268,016 | 1,306,586 | -38,570 | -3.0 |
| Leisure and Hospitality | 914,643 | 1,251,913 | -337,270 | -26.9 |
| Other Services | 247,734 | 282,251 | -34,517 | -12.2 |
| Government | 945,480 | 973,713 | -28,233 | -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 | 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.
