Florida Adds 21,800 Private Sector Jobs in April 2025

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—FloridaCommerce announced that Florida’s total private sector employment increased by 21,800 (+0.2%) jobs from the previous month. Florida now has a $1.7 trillion economy —reinforcing Florida’s position as an economic powerhouse. This month, the U.S. News & World Report has ranked Florida as the #1 economy in the nation for the second year in a row and #1 in economic growth. Florida also ranks #1 in higher education for the ninth consecutive year and #2 in education overall and holds the #6 overall ranking among all states.

Florida has added 3.6 million new business formations since 2019, and Florida’s labor force has surpassed 11.2 million, reflecting continued commitment to growth, opportunity and strategic investments. Florida also leads the nation in tourism, welcoming 33.1 million visitors, marking the highest number ever recorded for a Q4 period.

“Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, Florida continues to expand target industries by remaining committed to growth and strategic investments,” said Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly. “With a $1.7 trillion economy, Florida ranks as the #1 economy in the nation, we continue to attract talent and build confidence for businesses and a future full of opportunity for Floridians.”

As of April 2025, Florida employers have added jobs in 57 of the last 60 months since May 2020. Florida’s total private employment increased by 125,700 (+1.4%) over the year in April 2025. Florida’s statewide unemployment has been lower than the national rate for 54 consecutive months since November 2020.

Florida’s private sector job growth rate has exceeded the national rate for 47 of the last 49 months since April 2021. The industry that gained the most jobs in April 2025 was the education and health services sector, adding 8,000 jobs; followed by professional and business services, adding 7,400 jobs.

Resources for Job Seekers:

Florida’s Labor Exchange Marketplace, Employ Florida, connects job seekers to employment, training and education and job creators to skilled talent.
CareerSource Florida's network of local career centers offers tailored career counseling, skills assessments, resume assistance and job placement support.
Apprentice Florida is a partnership between the Florida Department of Education, FloridaCommerce and CareerSource Florida to expand apprenticeship programs across the state.
Veterans Florida works to help military veterans transition to civilian life, connecting them with employers who are eager to hire them for jobs that align with the skills they gained serving in the military.
The Military Family Employment Advocacy Program delivers priority workforce services to active-duty military spouses and family members through Military Family Employment Advocates located in local career centers throughout Florida.
The Military Spousal License Reciprocity Matrix, a one-stop reference source for helping military spouses transfer, renew or reissue professional licenses they need for work after relocating to Florida.
The FloridaCommerce Talent Pipeline Portal for Aerospace and Defense, a career advancement platform that connects job seekers and job creators within the aerospace and defense industry - propelling Florida forward.

Data in the month of April continues to indicate there are jobs available for every Floridian who wants to work, with almost 414,000 jobs posted online. Floridians in search of work and new job opportunities can utilize the CareerSource Florida network for help. Floridians can find guidance on how to register with Employ Florida and search listings of available local job openings. Career seekers also can improve their employability by perfecting resume writing and interviewing skills, establishing career goals and pursuing customized career training. These services are provided at no cost to job seekers.

To view the April 2025 jobs reports by region, please see below:

To view April 2025 employment data, click here.
Visit Florida Insight for more information on the labor market and economic data. Additionally, FloridaCommerce has provided a video to assist users in explaining the data provided through Florida Insight.