(FORT LAUDERDALE, FL) – Broward County’s job report indicated a 4.1% unemployment rate in September 2026. This rate was 0.1 percentage points greater than the region’s year ago at a rate of 4.0% and 0.1 percentage points lower than the state’s rate of 4.2%. The labor force was 1,074,400, down 6,309 (-0.6%) over the year and up 3,088 (+0.2%) over the month. There were 44,170 unemployed residents in the region.  

Nonagricultural employment in the Ft. Lauderdale-Pompano Bch-Sunrise Metro Division was 915,100, an increase of 300 jobs (<0.1%) over the year.  

The Education and Health Services (+2.7 percent); Manufacturing (+1.5 percent); Government (+1.4 percent); and Construction (+0.7 percent) industries grew as fast or faster in the metro area than statewide over the year. 

The Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-Sunrise MD had the highest annual job growth compared to all the metro areas in the state in the Government (+1,600 jobs) industry.

“Broward County’s latest unemployment rate in Broward County stayed 0.1% lower than the State and decreased 3 percentage points to 4.1% in September compared to the previous month. The region continues to demonstrate the underlying strengths that support long-term economic resilience. Greater Fort Lauderdale remains a highly competitive location for business investment, supported by strong infrastructure, talent pipeline initiatives, and continued opportunities across our targeted industries," said Bob Swindell, President and CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance. “This continued progress is made possible through the strong collaboration of our public and private partners, investors, and municipal leaders, whose shared commitment remains essential to strengthening and diversifying Broward County’s economy.”

Data and Analysis

As of September 2026, the industries gaining jobs over the year were Education and Health Services (+3,300 jobs); Government (+1,600 jobs); Leisure and Hospitality (+800 jobs); Manufacturing (+500 jobs) and Construction (+400 Jobs). 

Nonagricultural employment showed a month-to-month increase of 1,900 jobs, with the following two major sectors gaining over 1,000 jobs month over month: Government (+1,700 jobs, +1.5%), and Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+1,600 jobs, +0.8%).

Source: Florida Department of Commerce, Bureau of Labor Market Statistics – Not Seasonally Adjusted

Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.4% in September 2026, down 0.1 percentage points from the 4.5% rate in August 2026, and up 0.2 percentage points from a year ago. There were 489,000 jobless Floridians out of a labor force of 11,114,000. The U.S. seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.2% in September.

Florida’s seasonally adjusted total nonagricultural employment was 10,045,400 in September 2026, an increase of 5,300 jobs (+0.1%) over the month. The state gained 59,800 jobs over the year, an increase of 0.6%. Nationally, the number of jobs rose 0.3% over the year.

Six of ten major industries experienced positive over-the-year job growth in September 2026. The industries gaining jobs over the year were education and health services (+40,300 jobs, +2.5 percent), professional and business services (+19,300 jobs, +1.2 percent), leisure and hospitality (+16,800 jobs, +1.3 percent), trade, transportation, and utilities (+8,300 jobs, +0.4 percent), construction (+3,300 jobs, +0.5 percent), and manufacturing (+2,100 jobs, +0.5 percent).

The unemployment rate in Palm Beach County was 4.4% in September 2026. This rate was 0.1 percentage points greater than the region's year ago rate of 4.3%. The labor force was 775,577, down 909 (-0.1%) over the year. There were 33,753 unemployed residents in the region.  In September 2026, nonagricultural employment in the West Palm Bch-Boca Raton-Delray Bch Metro Division was 702,7200, an increase of 5,300 (+0.8%) over the year. 

For Miami-Dade County, the unemployment rate was 1.9% in September 2026. This rate was 1.0 percentage points lower than the region's year ago rate of 2.9%. In September 2026, nonagricultural employment in the Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall Metropolitan Division was 1,347,800, an increase of 7,400 jobs (+0.6%) over the year. In September 2026, the labor force was 1,452,691, up 38,230 (+2.7%) over the year. There were 27,597 unemployed residents in the region.

Below is a chart that indicates the monthly unemployment rates for the tri-county area, the state of Florida and the U.S. for the past 24 months.

Source: Florida Department of Commerce, Bureau of Labor Market Statistics

The Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance (www.gflalliance.org) is Broward County’s official public/private partnership for economic development.  Its mission is to lead Broward County in building a stronger and more diverse economy by stimulating the creation of new jobs and capital investment while facilitating the growth and retention of businesses in Broward County.   Services offered by the Alliance include assistance with business relocation or expansion and site selection; incentive programs and information; market research; and serving as a liaison for workforce development between CareerSource Broward, educational institutions, and the business community.  To learn more, call (954) 524-3113.

The Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance
110 E. Broward Blvd., Suite 1990, Fort Lauderdale, FL  33301
954-524-3113 or 800-741-1420

 

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