RWB19 


Overview of the CareerSource Heartland Region

Not Seasonally Adjusted

October 19, 2018

 

• The unemployment rate in the CareerSource Heartland region (DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, and
Okeechobee counties) was 3.9 percent in September 2018. This rate was 1.3 percentage point lower
than the region's year ago rate of 5.2 percent. The labor force was 76,497, up 90 (+0.1) over the
year. There were 2,956 unemployed residents in the region.


• Okeechobee County had the lowest unemployment rate (3.2 percent) in the CareerSource Heartland
region followed by DeSoto County (3.3 percent), Highlands County (4.2 percent), and Hardee County
(4.8 percent).


• Employment by industry in the CareerSource Heartland region totaled 57,986 jobs in March 2018
(the latest available data). Industry employment decreased by 0.5 percent over the year.


• The annual job growth rates for information (+40.4 percent); natural resources and mining (+10.5
percent); leisure and hospitality (+6.0 percent); other services (+3.6 percent); and trade,
transportation, and utilities (+2.8 percent) exceeded those of the state.


• The CareerSource Heartland region’s industry employment decreased by 288 jobs over the year in
March 2018. Six of the 11 industries added jobs over the year. The industries that gained the most
jobs included: natural resources and mining (+751 jobs); leisure and hospitality (+379 jobs); and
trade, transportation, and utilities (+308 jobs).


• In September 2018 nonagricultural employment in the Sebring MSA was 26,000, an increase of
1,000 jobs (+4.0 percent) over the year.

 

Note: All data are subject to revision.
Source: Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Bureau of Labor Market Statistics.

    Unemployment Rates (%)
    (not seasonally adjusted)		              
  Sep-18 Aug-18 Sep-17              
 CareerSource Heartland 3.9 4.9 5.2              
    DeSoto County 3.3 4.1 4.5              
    Hardee County 4.8 6.2 5.8              
    Highlands County 4.2 5.4 5.7              
    Okeechobee County 3.2 4.1 4.4              
 Florida 3.0 3.8 4.0              
 United States 3.6 3.9 4.1              
                     
     

 Employment by Industry
 Covered by Unemployment Compensation
 (not seasonally adjusted)

     CareerSource Heartland Region       Florida  
Mar-18 Mar-17 change % change   Mar-18 Mar-17 change % change  
 Total Employment 57,986 58,274 -288 -0.5   8,711,226 8,530,580 180,646 2.1  
    Natural Resources and Mining 7,875 7,124 751 10.5   81,933 90,685 -8,752 -9.7  
    Construction 2,989 4,296 -1,307 -30.4   533,814 498,803 35,011 7.0  
    Manufacturing 1,850 1,863 -13 -0.7   368,474 362,517 5,957 1.6  
    Trade, Transportation, and Utilities 11,373 11,065 308 2.8   1,759,346 1,726,962 32,384 1.9  
       Wholesale Trade  1,141 1,053 88 8.4   343,633 342,894 739 0.2  
       Retail Trade 8,160 7,950 210 2.6   1,123,116 1,104,959 18,157 1.6  
       Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities 2,072 2,062 10 0.5   292,597 279,109 13,488 4.8  
    Information 365 260 105 40.4   139,266 139,149 117 0.1  
    Financial Activities 1,564 1,566 -2 -0.1   566,052 552,191 13,861 2.5  
    Professional and Business Services 4,294 4,639 -345 -7.4   1,347,198 1,310,420 37,481 2.9  
    Education and Health Services 9,498 9,764 -266 -2.7   1,284,441 1,257,351 27,090 2.2  
    Leisure and Hospitality 6,673 6,294 379 6.0   1,249,459 1,223,733 25,726 2.1  
    Other Services 1,248 1,205 43 3.6   278,976 275,750 3,226 1.2  
    Government 10,242 10,191 51 0.5   1,094,170 1,086,188 7,982 0.7  
                     
 Population 2017 2016 change % change            
 CareerSource Heartland 208,761 205,551 3,210 1.6            
    DeSoto County 36,862 35,925 937 2.6            
    Hardee County 27,411 27,371 40 0.1            
    Highlands County 102,883 101,558 1,325 1.3            
    Okeechobee County 41,605 40,697 908 2.2            
 Florida 20,984,400 20,656,589 327,811 1.6            
                     
 Average Annual Wage 2017 2016 change % change            
 CareerSource Heartland $35,363 $33,552 1,811 5.4            
    DeSoto County $35,633 $34,618 $1,015 2.9            
    Hardee County $34,226 $33,283 $943 2.8            
    Highlands County $33,819 $32,845 $974 3.0            
    Okeechobee County $39,506 $34,642 $4,864 14.0            
 Florida $48,460 $47,055 $1,405 3.0            

 

 Note: All data are subject to revision.

Source: Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Bureau of Labor Market Statistics.