Overall unemployment rate moved down to 2.2% with the biggest shift in Restaurants & Hotels, which lost 1,100 roles, based on the most recently available information published in November 2022.

Total employment in the Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL market declined by 145 jobs in September and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 10 bps to 2.2%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 47 bps over the same time to 3.3%.

  • Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL unemployment rate is 112 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
  • Unemployment in the market is 70 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
  • Average wages (per hour) declined in September versus prior month by -0.5% and are equal 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 September 2022

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

  • Restaurants & Hotels: 23,300; -1,100
  • Transportation & Utilities: 22,700; -100
  • Government: 21,500; +100
  • Business Services: 20,600; no change
  • Education & Healthcare: 12,900; +100
  • Financial Services: 7,900; -100
  • Construction, Mining: 7,400; no change
  • Other Jobs: 5,300; no change
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL Unemployment by Industry September 2022

Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through September 2022 (Data published November 2022 and reports created on November 2, 2022).  Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.

Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.