Florida's nonagricultural employment depends heavily upon tourism, services to retirees, and construction. Consequently it is sensitive to changes in the national economy that affect disposable and retirement income. Since the 1960s, Florida has usually experienced a lower unemploymentÊrate than the nation. Beginning in 1989, however, Florida's unemployment rate began to rise higher than the nation's. This change is largely the result of a more rapid in-migration of people in search of work than growth in jobs. In 1990 an estimated 800 job seekers entered Florida each day. The severe freezes during 1989 and 1990 brought declines in employment related to food production. In 1990 the construction industry began to lay off workers, the result of a surplus in both new commercial buildings and residences. Manufacturing has been a slow generator of jobs since the middle of the 1980s. Services and retail trade have been the two stable areas of employment, but in 1991 retail sales began to decline, and there were indications of a decrease in tourism.
Seasonality of employment in Florida is much less pronounced than in the past. In the southeast and west, seasonal variation is small. It is largest in the panhandle and central Florida. The panhandle's coast draws many visitors in the summer, but few in the winter. Central Florida's Walt Disney World and other nearby theme parks also have peak attendance in the summer.
