By Positively Osceola News Staff
The Florida Department of Commerce announced that the Orlando metro area—which includes Osceola County along with Orange, Seminole, and Lake counties—led the state in private sector job growth in May 2025, adding 29,000 jobs over the year, a 2.1% increase, while also growing its labor force by more than 17,700 people, signaling continued economic momentum across Central Florida.
Statewide, Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained steady at 3.7% in May, unchanged from April but up slightly from 3.3% one year ago. The national unemployment rate stood at 4.2%, marking the 55th consecutive month that Florida’s rate has been lower than the U.S. average.
“Florida continues to drive strategic economic expansion and job creation across key sectors,” said Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly. “Florida is not resting on our laurels—just this week, wins were announced at the Paris Air Show that reflect our growing influence in aviation and workforce development.”
Local Job Growth by Sector
In May 2025, the Orlando metro area led all Florida metro areas in over-the-year job gains across several key industries:
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Leisure and hospitality: +10,900 jobs
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Professional and business services: +3,000 jobs
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Government: +2,900 jobs
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Financial activities: +1,800 jobs
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Other services: +1,600 jobs
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Information: +900 jobs
The metro area’s unemployment rate was 3.4%, up from 3.0% in May 2024 but still below the state and national averages.
Statewide Employment Growth
Florida gained 22,900 private sector jobs in May, contributing to a total of 134,500 new private sector jobs (+1.5%) over the past year—outpacing the national growth rate of 1.1%.
All ten of the state’s major industry sectors experienced positive year-over-year job growth in May:
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Education and health services: +49,500 jobs (+3.2%)
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Trade, transportation, and utilities: +32,100 jobs (+1.6%)
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Professional and business services: +16,300 jobs (+1.0%)
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Construction: +9,900 jobs (+1.5%)
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Financial activities: +5,600 jobs (+0.8%)
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Manufacturing: +4,200 jobs (+1.0%)
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Leisure and hospitality: +4,100 jobs (+0.3%)
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Information: +2,600 jobs (+1.7%)
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Other services: +10,200 jobs (+2.7%)
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Government: +14,200 jobs (+1.2%)
Florida’s manufacturing sector gained 1,100 jobs in May, continuing to reinforce the state’s growing position as a national leader in the industry.
Resources Available to Job Seekers
FloridaCommerce continues to provide Floridians with tools and support to connect with employers and training opportunities. Over 408,000 job postings were listed online as of May. Free support services include:
- Employ Florida – a comprehensive platform connecting job seekers and employers
- CareerSource Florida – offering resume help, skills assessments, and job placement through a statewide network
- Apprentice Florida – expanding access to registered apprenticeship programs across industries
- Veterans Florida – helping military veterans transition to civilian careers through targeted services
- Military Family Employment Advocacy Program – dedicated workforce support for active-duty military spouses and family members
- Talent Pipeline Portal for Aerospace and Defense – connecting job seekers with aerospace and defense industry employers via a specialized portal
Florida’s Economic Outlook Remains Strong
Florida continues to earn top marks for economic strength. U.S. News & World Report ranked Florida the #1 economy in the nation for the second year in a row and #1 in economic growth. The state also ranks #1 in postsecondary education and #2 in overall education, thanks in part to its network of 28 state colleges and 12 state universities.
For full labor market information or to explore job-seeking resources, visit www.floridajobs.org.
