Employment in Florida’s largest counties increased in most areas between March 2024 and March 2025, according to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Out of the 25 largest counties with published figures, 20 saw employment growth during this period.
Victoria G. Lee, Regional Commissioner for the Bureau, stated that Pasco and St. Johns counties experienced the highest employment increases at 2.2 percent each. Pinellas County recorded the largest decline, with a decrease of 1.4 percent.
Miami-Dade had the highest employment among Florida’s large counties in March 2025, totaling approximately 1,283,000 jobs. The state’s 27 largest counties together made up nearly 88 percent of all covered employment in Florida during this time frame. On a national scale, the largest counties account for about three-quarters of total covered employment across the United States.
All large Florida counties with available data reported an increase in average weekly wages over the year ending March 2025. Duval County led these gains with a rise of 6.8 percent; other large counties posted wage increases ranging from 6.7 percent to 1.8 percent.
Only two of Florida’s largest counties—Miami-Dade and one other—reported average weekly wages above the national average of $1,589 during this period; Miami-Dade’s was $1,708 while Marion County reported $1,032.
For smaller Florida counties (those with fewer than 75,000 employees), none surpassed the national average wage level. Indian River had the highest weekly wage among small counties at $1,306; Holmes had the lowest at $773.
Statewide analysis showed that nine out of all sixty-seven Florida counties reported average weekly wages below $900; twenty-one were between $900 and $1,024; thirteen ranged from $1,025 to $1,149; ten fell between $1,150 and $1,274; and fourteen registered wages at or above $1,275.
“Regional Commissioner Victoria G. Lee noted that Pasco and St. Johns counties had the largest over-the-year increases in employment, with gains of 2.2 percent each.”
Further details on county-level data are available through related releases by BLS as well as their Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages website.
The next release covering second quarter data is scheduled for December 3rd.
