Overall unemployment rate moved down to 4.6% with the biggest shift in Transportation & Utilities, which lost 5,400 roles, based on the most recently available information published in March 2021.

Total employment in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL market rose by 28,188 jobs in January and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 60 bps to 4.6%. The national unemployment rate increased by 31 bps over the same time to 6.8%.

  • Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL unemployment rate is 221 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
  • Unemployment in the market is 150 bps above the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a negative.
  • Average wages (per hour) grew in January versus prior month by 0.8% and are up compared to last year at this time in the market.
Month over Month Unemployment Change
Year over Year Unemployment Change
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Unemployment January 2021

For key employment segments of the market, total jobs declined by -1.0%. Key sectors include:

  • Business Services: 254,200; -1,500
  • Transportation & Utilities: 253,600; -5,400
  • Education & Healthcare: 210,500; -2,600
  • Government: 153,700; -400
  • Restaurants & Hotels: 133,800; -2,800
  • Financial Services: 126,100; -500
  • Construction, Mining: 84,200; -500
  • Manufacturing: 67,400; -700
  • Other Jobs: 46,100; +700
  • IT & Development: 24,100; +300
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Unemployment by Industry January 2021

Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through January 2021 (Data published March 2021 and reports created on March 25, 2021).  Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.

Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.