Overall unemployment rate moved down to 3.8% with the biggest shift in Transportation & Utilities, which lost 700 roles, based on the most recently available information published in September 2021.

Total employment in the Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL market declined by 1,776 jobs in August and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 20 bps to 3.8%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 38 bps over the same time to 5.3%.

  • Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL unemployment rate is 149 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
  • Unemployment in the market is 100 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
  • Average wages (per hour) grew in August versus prior month by 7.2% and are up compared to last year at this time in the market.
Month over Month Unemployment Change
Year over Year Unemployment Change
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL Unemployment August 2021

For key employment segments of the market, total jobs declined by -0.5%. Key sectors include:

  • Restaurants & Hotels: 22,300; -500
  • Government: 20,200; +400
  • Transportation & Utilities: 20,000; -700
  • Business Services: 19,400; no change
  • Education & Healthcare: 12,400; +200
  • Financial Services: 7,500; no change
  • Construction, Mining: 7,100; +100
  • Other Jobs: 4,900; no change
  • Manufacturing: 3,400; -100
  • IT & Development: 1,300; no change
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL Unemployment by Industry August 2021

Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through August 2021 (Data published September 2021 and reports created on September 29, 2021).  Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.

Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.