Northeast Florida Unemployment Hits 5.1% in November Amid National Job Gains

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Unemployment in Northeast Florida rose sharply in November 2025, even as national numbers show modest improvement. The Jacksonville metro area — encompassing Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, and St. Johns counties — recorded an unemployment rate of 5.1%, up from 4.3% in September and 3.5% the previous November.

This marks the highest regional unemployment since the coronavirus pandemic, with surrounding counties showing similar trends. Putnam County reported the highest rate at 6.3%. Florida overall sat at 4.2%, up 0.7 percentage points year-over-year.

Economists point to multiple factors behind the rise:

Tariffs affecting manufacturing jobs
Slower construction activity due to more homes being available
Global conflicts, such as in Venezuela, potentially impacting local job markets

“We are in a K-shaped economy — high earners are doing well while middle- and lower-income workers face higher unemployment and prices,” said Dr. Amanda Phalin, economist at the University of Florida.

Local employment resources like CareerSource are helping job seekers navigate the challenging market. Ron Whittington, a CareerSource representative, highlighted fields with strong hiring demand in the region:

Retail sales: 1,116 positions
Registered nurses: 946
Fast food/counter workers: 920
First-line supervisors of food prep and retail sales: 847–617 positions

CareerSource is also hosting job fairs throughout January 2026, including events at the Southside Career Center in Jacksonville and the St. Johns Career Center on Jan. 15 and Jan. 29.

National context: The U.S. saw a rise in jobless claims for the week ending Jan. 3, 2026, with applications increasing to 208,000, reflecting ongoing layoffs and volatility in the labor market. November job growth added 64,000 jobs, offset by October losses of 105,000 federal positions. The overall U.S. unemployment rate rose to 4.6%, the highest since 2021.

Despite rising local unemployment, officials are encouraging job seekers to explore sectors that continue to hire, while national data suggests a mixed but improving employment picture.

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