Orlando area leads Florida’s job growth again in February

Florida’s unemployment rate remains low at 3.9 percent, while Orlando continues to lead the state in sheer number of jobs added with a lower jobless rate of 3.4 percent, according to the state’s February jobs report issued Friday.

The Orlando metro area added 42,000 jobs over the past 12 months, though most of those were in the relatively low-paying leisure and hospitality industries.

Orlando also added 6,200 new construction jobs in the past year, and 4,400 trade, transportation and utilities jobs.

The metro area had a labor force of 1.33 million, with 1.29 million jobs, meaning its standard unemployment rate is 3.4 percent, but that is not adjusted for fluctuations in seasonal hiring. The rate is down from 3.7 percent in January.

Those numbers don’t take into account people who are underemployed or people who have dropped out of the job market for various reasons.

Gov. Rick Scott made the announcement at a groundbreaking ceremony in downtown Ocala for a new Hilton Garden Inn, apartment complex and restaurants there. According to the governor, recent tax cuts will help employers keep hiring.

Statewide, the biggest job growth over the past 12 months came in professional and business services with 46,900 new jobs; construction with 31,700 new jobs; and leisure and hospitality with 25,600 new jobs.

Following are the rates for local counties:

Lake — 3.6 percent, down from 4 percent in January and 4.5 percent a year ago.

Orange — 3.3 percent, down from 3.6 percent in January, and 3.9 percent a year ago.

Osceola — 3.8 percent, down from 4.2 percent in January and 4.5 percent a year ago.

Seminole — 3.3 percent, down from 3.6 percent in January and 3.9 percent a year ago. February