Unemployment ticks higher on Forgotten Coast
The jobless rate along the Forgotten Coast rose slightly in February, to where both Gulf and Franklin counties are now above the state average.
According to preliminary data released last month by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Franklin County’s jobless rate went up from 4.5 to 4.6 percent, and in Gulf, from 3.7 to 3.8 percent.
In Franklin, two workers joined the unemployment line, raising it to 200 as the labor force grew by 20 workers, from 4,375 to 4,395.
In Gulf County, 11 people joined the jobless rolls, raising them to 261, while the labor force grew by 56 workers, from 6,734 to 6,790.
This data placed Gulf as 14th best in the state, a tad higher than the state average, while Franklin County was tied for 13th worst in the state, higher than both the Florida and U.S. averages.
One year ago, the unemployment rate in Gulf was lower, at 3.1 percent, and the labor force was smaller at 6,716.
In Franklin, the unemployment rate a year ago also was lower, at 3.7 percent, and the workforce was larger, at 4,463.
Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.6 percent in February, up 0.1 percentage point from the January rate, and up 0.4 percentage point from a year ago. There were 398,000 jobless Floridians out of a labor force of 11.2 million. The U.S. seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in February.
Florida’s seasonally adjusted total nonagricultural employment was 10.02 million in February, an increase of 7,400 jobs (+0.1 percent) over the month. The state gained 128,300 jobs over the year, an increase of 1.3 percent. Nationally, the number of jobs rose 1.2 percent over the year.
All 10 major industries experienced positive over-the-year job growth in February.
The industries gaining jobs over the year included education and health services (+39,700 jobs, +2.6 percent); total government (+22,600 jobs, +2.0 percent); trade, transportation, and utilities (+20,600 jobs, +1.0 percent); construction (+16,900 jobs, +2.6 percent); other services (+8,700 jobs, +2.3 percent); financial activities (+6,200 jobs, +0.9 percent); leisure and hospitality (+4,300 jobs, +0.3 percent); manufacturing (+4,000 jobs, +0.9 percent); professional and business services (+3,500 jobs, +0.2 percent); and information (+1,900 jobs, +1.2 percent).
February Area Unemployment
| County | 2024 | 2025 |
| Wakulla | 2.6% | 3.2% |
| Gulf | 3.1% | 3.8% |
| Leon | 3.1% | 3.8% |
| Bay | 3.3% | 3.9% |
| Liberty | 3.7% | 4.2% |
| Franklin | 3.7% | 4.6% |
Meet the Editor
David Adlerstein, The Apalachicola Times’ digital editor, started with the news outlet in January 2002 as a reporter.
Prior to then, David Adlerstein began as a newspaperman with a small Boston weekly, after graduating magna cum laude from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. He later edited the weekly Bellville Times, and as business reporter for the daily Marion Star, both not far from his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
In 1995, he moved to South Florida, and worked as a business reporter and editor of Medical Business newspaper. In Jan. 2002, he began with the Apalachicola Times, first as reporter and later as editor, and in Oct. 2020, also began editing the Port St. Joe Star.