Florida’s unemployment rate remained stable at 3.3% in September for the sixth consecutive month, with 368,000 residents classified as unemployed, as reported by the state Department of Commerce. The U.S. Department of Labor noted a sharp drop in Florida jobless claims, from nearly 10,000 to just over 6,100 last week. However, the state’s labor force saw a net decline of 6,000 workers, attributed mainly to retirements among Baby Boomers and Gen X, marking the sixth consecutive monthly decrease and the first year-over-year labor force reduction since February 2021. “Retirements and an aging workforce are key drivers of this trend,” said Jimmy Heckman, Florida Commerce’s Chief of Workforce Statistics, who highlighted stable labor force participation among working-age adults aged 25-54. The economic impact of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which recently impacted Florida’s Gulf Coast, is not yet captured in these figures as assessment continues. Nationally, initial jobless claims also saw a decrease, with the U.S. unemployment rate at 4.1% for September. Click here to read the unemployment figures, and click here to read more.