TAMPA, Fla. — While Florida continues to post an unemployment rate lower than the national average, inside the numbers, the unemployment rate is rising in many major areas of the state.
Across the Tampa Bay region, unemployment rose in every county from April 2023 to April 2024. Some counties saw rates rise by as much as 1.3% in the last year.
County | April 2023 unemployment rate | April 2024 unemployment rate | YOY change in employed people | YOY change in those on unemployment |
Hillsborough | 2.4% | 3.2% | -67,251 | 6,871 |
Pinellas | 2.2% | 3.0% | 410 | 4,377 |
Pasco | 2.7% | 3.7% | 9,947 | 2,717 |
Polk | 3.0% | 3.9% | 2,095 | 3,428 |
Sarasota | 2.4% | 3.2% | 1,224 | 1,862 |
Manatee | 2.4% | 3.3% | 986 | 1,770 |
Hernando | 3.1% | 4.2% | 46 | 949 |
Citrus | 3.6% | 4.9% | -597 | 654 |
Highlands | 3.3% | 4.6% | -100 | 474 |
Statewide | 2.4% | 3.2% | 21,000 | 87,000 |
NOTE: All Numbers are Non-Seasonally Adjusted. All numbers from Floridajobs.org
Compared to the national average, Florida's 3.2% unemployment rate remained below the national rate of 3.9%. The Florida Department of Commerce said it was the 42nd straight month the state of Florida's unemployment rate had been below the national average.
“You know, it might just be time we take a look if HOAs are really even necessary.
Maybe we should just do away with homeowner associations as a whole.”
South Florida lawmaker Rep. Juan Carlos Porras (R-Miami) says it may be time to do away with homeowners associations altogether, as more Floridians speak out about rising fees, costly lawsuits, and even arrests tied to HOA disputes. He said this week that he is considering filing legislation in the next session that would abolish HOAs statewide.
