According to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provisional estimates, in July 2003 the seasonally adjusted civilian labor force in Florida numbered 8,068,400, with approximately 430,100 workers unemployed, yielding an unemployment rate of 5.3%, compared to the national average of 6.2% for the same period. Since the beginning of the BLS data series in 1978, the highest unemployment rate recorded was 9.7% in March 1983. The historical low was 3.5% in July 2000. It is estimated that in 2001, 7.1% of the labor force was employed in construction; 8.1% in manufacturing; 5.6% in transportation, communications, and public utilities; 22.7% in trade; 7.1% in finance, insurance, and real estate; 28.7% in services; 12.2% in government; and 2.4% in agriculture. As in the United States generally, unemployment was higher among non-whites and teenagers than among white adults—and highest among black teenagers.
In 1998, about 62% of the state's civilian population, age 16 or older, were in the labor force, compared with 67.1% for the United States as a whole. The major reason for the difference is the extremely low participation rate for Floridians 65 or older, reflecting the fact that many people migrate to the state for their retirement years.
The US Department of Labor reported that in 2002, 380,000 of Florida's 6,697,000 employed wage and salary workers were members of unions. This represented 5.7% of those so employed, down from 6.3% in 2001. The national average is 13.2%. In all, 507,000 workers (7.6%) were represented by unions. In addition to union members, this category includes workers who report no union affiliation but whose jobs are covered by a union contract. Florida is one of 22 states with a right-to-work law.