Lakeland-Winter Haven, Florida Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Lakeland fell 0.1 percentage points in July 2019 to 3.8%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.5 percentage points higher than the Florida rate. The unemployment rate in Lakeland peaked in December 2009 at 12.3% and is now 8.5 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.7% in September 2018, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.1 percentage points. You can also compare Lakeland unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	July 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	3.7%	0.0	-0.2
Florida	3.3%	-0.1	-0.2
Lakeland	3.8%	-0.1	-0.1

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with July 2019 data as August 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 October 2010 at 34,262. There are now 22,682 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 11,195 in October 2018, the number of unemployed has now grown by 385. Lakeland employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Lakeland, Florida) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	July 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
Lakeland	11,580	-255	-79

Number of Unemployed Persons

Lakeland, Florida Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Florida Unemployment Rate	Lakeland Unemployment Rate	Lakeland Unemployed
September 2019	3.5%	—	—	—
August 2019	3.7%	3.3%	—	—
July 2019	3.7%	3.3%	3.8%	11,580
June 2019	3.7%	3.4%	3.9%	11,835
May 2019	3.6%	3.4%	4.0%	11,929
April 2019	3.6%	3.5%	4.0%	11,992
March 2019	3.8%	3.5%	4.0%	12,021
February 2019	3.8%	3.5%	3.9%	11,879
January 2019	4.0%	3.4%	3.9%	11,671
December 2018	3.9%	3.3%	3.8%	11,350
November 2018	3.7%	3.3%	3.7%	11,295
October 2018	3.8%	3.3%	3.7%	11,195