Overall unemployment rate stayed flat at 2.9% with the biggest shift in Transportation & Utilities, which lost 400 roles, based on the most recently available information published in March 2022.

Total employment in the Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL market declined by 427 jobs in January and the unemployment rate stayed flat. The national unemployment rate increased by 74 bps over the same time to 4.4%.

  • Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL unemployment rate is 153 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
  • Unemployment in the market is 60 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
  • Average wages (per hour) grew in January 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 January 2022

For key employment segments of the market, total jobs declined by -0.9%. Key sectors include:

  • Transportation & Utilities: 22,500; -400
  • Restaurants & Hotels: 21,100; -200
  • Government: 21,100; -100
  • Business Services: 20,100; -200
  • Education & Healthcare: 12,200; -100
  • Financial Services: 7,700; no change
  • Construction, Mining: 7,100; no change
  • Other Jobs: 5,000; no change
  • Manufacturing: 3,500; no change
  • IT & Development: 1,300; -100
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL Unemployment by Industry January 2022

Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through January 2022 (Data published March 2022 and reports created on March 18, 2022).  Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.

Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.