South Florida's three big counties posted lower unemployment in September 2026 than in August, with Miami Dade falling to 1.9%, Broward to 4.1% and Palm Beach to 4.4%. The figures come from FloridaCommerce's monthly labor market release, issued Oct. 16, and are not seasonally adjusted.
The full county numbers are posted by CareerSource Broward, which republishes the FloridaCommerce data for Broward, Palm Beach and Miami Dade. For business owners, the numbers say a lot about hiring conditions, which industries are adding workers and where competition for staff is strongest heading into the end of the year.
The Headline Numbers
- Miami Dade: 1.9% unemployment in September 2026, down from 2.7% in August and 2.9% a year earlier
- Broward: 4.1% in September, down from 4.4% in August and up from 4.0% a year earlier
- Palm Beach: 4.4% in September, down from 4.6% in August and up from 4.3% a year earlier
- Florida: 4.2% not seasonally adjusted, and 4.4% seasonally adjusted
- United States: 4.2% seasonally adjusted
All three counties improved from August. Miami Dade's rate is the lowest of the three by a wide margin, at 2.3 percentage points below the state's not seasonally adjusted rate of 4.2%.
Broward: 4.1% and Gains in Health, Government and Manufacturing
Broward's unemployment rate was 4.1% in September, 0.1 point below the state rate. The county's labor force was 1,074,400, down 6,309 over the year, and there were 44,170 unemployed residents.
Nonagricultural employment in the Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach and Sunrise metro division was 915,100, up 300 jobs from a year earlier. The industries adding jobs over the year were:
- Education and Health Services, up 3,300 jobs
- Government, up 1,600 jobs
- Leisure and Hospitality, up 800 jobs
- Manufacturing, up 500 jobs
- Construction, up 400 jobs
The Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance noted that Education and Health Services, Manufacturing, Government and Construction grew as fast or faster in the metro area than statewide over the year. The Alliance also reported that the metro division had the highest annual job growth in the Government industry among Florida's metro areas, at 1,600 jobs.
From August to September, Broward's metro division added 1,900 jobs, led by Government, up 1,700, and Trade, Transportation and Utilities, up 1,600, according to the Alliance release.
Palm Beach: 4.4% and a Steady Job Gain
Palm Beach County's unemployment rate was 4.4% in September, 0.2 point above the state rate. The labor force was 775,577, down 909 over the year, with 33,753 unemployed residents.
Nonagricultural employment in the West Palm Beach, Boca Raton and Delray Beach metro division was 702,700, up 5,300 jobs or 0.8% over the year. The industries adding jobs were:
- Education and Health Services, up 4,000 jobs
- Government, up 1,200 jobs
- Leisure and Hospitality, up 800 jobs
- Trade, Transportation and Utilities, up 700 jobs
- Manufacturing, up 100 jobs
- Other Services, up 100 jobs
Miami Dade: 1.9% and a Growing Labor Force
Miami Dade posted the region's lowest rate at 1.9%, a full point below its rate a year earlier. Unlike Broward and Palm Beach, its labor force grew, reaching 1,452,691, up 38,230 or 2.7% over the year. There were 27,597 unemployed residents.
Nonagricultural employment in the Miami, Miami Beach and Kendall metro division was 1,347,800, up 7,400 jobs or 0.6% over the year. The industries adding jobs were:
- Professional and Business Services, up 5,500 jobs
- Education and Health Services, up 4,800 jobs
- Trade, Transportation and Utilities, up 2,400 jobs
- Leisure and Hospitality, up 1,100 jobs
- Manufacturing, up 100 jobs
The Metro Area View
FloridaCommerce's September pocket card, posted by CareerSource Broward, also reports a combined rate for the Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach metro area. That rate was 3.2% in September 2026, down from 3.7% in August and from 3.6% a year earlier, all not seasonally adjusted.
The same card lists the three metro divisions that make up the region. The Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach and Sunrise division was at 4.1%, the Miami, Miami Beach and Kendall division at 1.9%, and the West Palm Beach, Boca Raton and Delray Beach division at 4.4%. The combined figure sits below Florida's not seasonally adjusted rate of 4.2% and the U.S. not seasonally adjusted rate of 4.0%, which shows the region as a whole held a tighter labor market than the state and nation in September.
Florida and the Nation
Florida's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.4% in September, down from 4.5% in August and up 0.2 point from a year earlier. There were 489,000 jobless Floridians out of a labor force of 11,114,000.
The state's seasonally adjusted nonagricultural employment was 10,045,400, up 5,300 jobs over the month and 59,800 jobs, or 0.6%, over the year. Nationally, jobs rose 0.3% over the year, and the U.S. seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.2%.
Six of Florida's ten major industries added jobs over the year. Education and health services led with 40,300 jobs, followed by professional and business services with 19,300, leisure and hospitality with 16,800, trade, transportation and utilities with 8,300, construction with 3,300 and manufacturing with 2,100.
What the Numbers Mean for Hiring
A low unemployment rate usually means fewer people are looking for work, and employers compete harder for the ones who are. Miami Dade's 1.9% rate points to a tight labor market, especially in professional services and health care, the two industries that added the most jobs there. Owners hiring in those fields may need more time to fill openings, or may need to look at pay, schedules or training to attract candidates.
Broward and Palm Beach rates sit closer to the state average, which can make hiring somewhat easier. Owners in those counties may find more applicants for entry level and hourly roles, though skilled trades and licensed positions can still take time to fill. Even so, both counties saw labor forces shrink slightly over the year, so the pool of available workers did not grow.
Across all three counties, Education and Health Services was a leading source of new jobs. Businesses that compete with hospitals, clinics and schools for administrative, technical or support staff should expect that competition to continue.
Practical Steps for Employers
The monthly numbers can help owners plan staffing for the busy season and early 2027:
- Compare your industry's job growth in your county with your own hiring needs
- Post openings early for roles in fast growing fields such as health care and professional services
- Review pay and benefits against local competitors for hard to fill roles
- Consider training current staff for higher skilled roles instead of hiring from outside
- Contact your local CareerSource office about recruiting help and training programs
CareerSource Broward lists its employer services on its website. The Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, Broward's public and private economic development partnership, can be reached at (954) 524-3113.
A Note on the Data
The county unemployment rates above are not seasonally adjusted, which means they can move with the seasons, such as the winter tourism period. The state and national rates cited as seasonally adjusted are adjusted for those patterns. FloridaCommerce notes that all data are subject to revision. The next monthly release is scheduled for Nov. 20, 2026, according to the state's release calendar.
Sources
- CareerSource Broward: September 2026 unemployment data
- FloridaCommerce pocket card, September 2026 data
- Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance: Broward unemployment drops to 4.1% in September
Related
- CareerSource Broward Employer Training Money Map
- South Florida Economic Buzz Owner Map
- Broward Paychecks for Patriots Employer Guide
Key Facts
What was South Florida's unemployment rate in September 2026?
FloridaCommerce data released Oct. 16 put September 2026 unemployment at 1.9% in Miami Dade, 4.1% in Broward and 4.4% in Palm Beach, all not seasonally adjusted. All three improved from August, when the rates were 2.7%, 4.4% and 4.6%. Florida's not seasonally adjusted rate was 4.2%, and its seasonally adjusted rate was 4.4%.
Which Broward industries added jobs over the year?
In the Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach and Sunrise metro division, Education and Health Services added 3,300 jobs, Government 1,600, Leisure and Hospitality 800, Manufacturing 500 and Construction 400 over the year. Total nonagricultural employment was 915,100, up 300 jobs. The metro division added 1,900 jobs from August to September.
Why is Miami Dade unemployment so low?
Miami Dade's rate fell to 1.9% in September, down from 2.9% a year earlier, while its labor force grew 2.7% to 1,452,691. Nonagricultural employment rose 7,400 jobs over the year, led by Professional and Business Services with 5,500 and Education and Health Services with 4,800. Employers there face a tight hiring market.
How did Palm Beach County jobs change?
Palm Beach County's unemployment rate was 4.4% in September, up from 4.3% a year earlier and down from 4.6% in August. Nonagricultural employment in the West Palm Beach, Boca Raton and Delray Beach metro division reached 702,700, up 5,300 jobs, or 0.8%, with Education and Health Services adding 4,000 jobs.
When is the next Florida jobs report?
FloridaCommerce's release calendar lists the next monthly employment and unemployment release for Nov. 20, 2026. That report will cover October data for each county and metro area. County rates are not seasonally adjusted and can move with tourism seasons, and FloridaCommerce notes that all of its labor market data are subject to revision.
