Lakeland-Winter Haven, Florida Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Lakeland fell 0.1 percentage points in February 2019 to 4.1%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.6 percentage points higher than the Florida rate. The unemployment rate in Lakeland peaked in November 2010 at 12.4% and is now 8.3 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.3% in September 2018, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.8 percentage points. You can also compare Lakeland unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	February 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	3.8%	-0.2	-0.3
Florida	3.5%	+0.1	-0.4
Lakeland	4.1%	-0.1	-0.3

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with February 2019 data as March metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Lakeland, Florida, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Lakeland, Florida Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Lakeland peaked in November 2010 at 34,449. There are now 22,114 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 9,804 in September 2018, the number of unemployed has now grown by 2,531. Lakeland employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Lakeland, Florida) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	February 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
Lakeland	12,335	-266	-841

Number of Unemployed Persons

Lakeland, Florida Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Florida Unemployment Rate	Lakeland Unemployment Rate	Lakeland Unemployed
March 2019	3.8%	3.5%	—	—
February 2019	3.8%	3.5%	4.1%	12,335
January 2019	4.0%	3.4%	4.2%	12,601
December 2018	3.9%	3.3%	3.8%	11,463
November 2018	3.7%	3.3%	3.4%	10,281
October 2018	3.8%	3.3%	3.3%	10,007
September 2018	3.7%	3.3%	3.3%	9,804
August 2018	3.8%	3.4%	3.8%	11,380
July 2018	3.9%	3.5%	4.0%	12,077
June 2018	4.0%	3.6%	4.2%	12,439
May 2018	3.8%	3.7%	4.1%	12,288
April 2018	3.9%	3.7%	4.3%	12,966