Volusia's Job Market Stayed Steady in August, Healthcare Leading the Way

Volusia County's job market showed some quiet strength in August, with the unemployment rate ticking down and the overall number of jobs edging up, according to the state's latest labor report.

The Numbers

The Florida Department of Commerce reported Volusia County's August unemployment rate at 5.2%, with 13,960 workers unemployed out of a labor force of 267,024. That's down from 5.3% in July, though up from 4.9% a year earlier in August 2025. The report is based on a household survey.

On the jobs side, the Volusia-Flagler area had 230,600 non-agricultural jobs in August, up 800 from July and up 2,000 from a year earlier. That figure comes from a separate employer survey.

Statewide, Florida's jobless rate fell to 4.5% in August, marking a third straight month of decline, though it remains slightly above the national average of 4.1%.

Where the Growth Is Coming From

Healthcare continued to lead local job growth, with hospitals alone adding 600 jobs over the past year. Government hiring rose by 300 jobs, while leisure and hospitality, construction, and manufacturing each added about 200 jobs.

Longtime local business columnist Clayton Brumley, who has tracked Volusia County's economy for nearly three decades, has pointed to the area's retiree population as a structural advantage for the local labor market. As baby boomers continue retiring out of the workforce, the area doesn't need to generate as many entirely new jobs to keep unemployment low, since retirements themselves create openings. A county that also attracts a steady stream of incoming retirees gets a second boost, filling some of those newly vacant positions with people relocating to the area rather than pulling from the existing local labor pool.

What It Means for Residents

A falling unemployment rate paired with rising job totals is generally a healthy combination, suggesting growth in available positions rather than simply people leaving the workforce. For job seekers, healthcare remains the strongest sector locally, consistent with a trend that has held for several years as the county's hospital systems continue to expand.

The next monthly labor report is expected in late October.