Regional Unemployment Rate Announced for August 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 20, 2024
Contact
Carrine Anaeto
Cell: (850) 508-1698
Regional Unemployment Rate Announced for August 2024
CareerSource Capital Region’s LEAP Program: A Strategic Response that Offers a Lifeline for Local Youth Providing Pathways to Education, Stability, and Future Success
GADSDEN, JEFFERSON, LEON & WAKULLA COUNTIES, Fla. – The unemployment rate in CareerSource Capital Region (Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, and Wakulla counties) was 3.9 percent in August 2024. This rate was 0.4 percentage points greater than the region’s year ago rate of 3.5 percent.
Wakulla County’s unemployment rate remained the lowest in the Capital Region at 3.2 percent; Leon County followed at 3.9 percent; Jefferson County at 4.1 percent; and Gadsden County was at 4.4 percent. The region’s August 2024 unemployment rate was 0.2 percentage point above the state rate of 3.7 percent. There were a total of 7,870 unemployed residents in the Capital Region.
The top six advertised occupations in the Capital Region in August 2024 were as follows:
- Registered Nurses
- Software Developers
- Computer Occupations, All Other
- Retail Salespersons
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
In response to unemployment in the area, CareerSource Capital Region is excited to highlight the youth program, LEAP (Learn, Earn, Advance Program), as a critical solution. Designed to equip teens and young adults with essential career skills, LEAP is tailored to address the barriers many young people face when trying to enter the workforce.
Many youth career seekers struggle with a lack of work experience, limited educational qualifications, and insufficient access to career training. LEAP provides a well-rounded solution to overcome these obstacles through a blend of job preparation, paid internships, entrepreneurial training, and financial literacy guidance.
"Programs like LEAP are critical in our region," said Jecheta Blackshear, LEAP Youth Supervisor at CareerSource Capital Region. "By providing a range of services from paid internships to entrepreneurial training, we’re not only helping young people gain work experience but also giving them the tools they need to succeed in a competitive job market."
This strategic investment in young talent is part of CareerSource Capital Region’s broader mission to foster economic growth by empowering career seekers and strengthening the regional workforce.
LEAP serves youth between the ages of 14 and 24 who meet certain eligibility requirements and provides some or all of the following assistance and training to participants:
- On-the-Job Training
- Entrepreneurial Training
- Financial Literacy Guidance
- Paid Internships (Ages 16-24)
- Life-Skills Training
- GED Program Support
- One-on-One Career Coaching
- Certification Programs and College Education Opportunities
By addressing both the in-school and out-of-school youth populations, LEAP stands as a vital resource in bridging the skills gap and preparing the next generation of workers. The program also offers support for youth facing additional challenges such as homelessness, foster care, or disabilities, ensuring that everyone has a chance to build a successful future.
For more information about LEAP, please visit CareerSource Capital Region’s website, your local career center or call (850) 922-0023.
Monday – Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm:
Gadsden County
Career Center
1140 West Clark Street
Quincy, FL 32351
(850) 875-4040
Leon County
Career Center
2601 Blair Stone Road
Building C, Suite 200
Tallahassee, FL 32301
(850) 922-0023
Wakulla County
Career Center
3278 Crawfordville Hwy.
Crawfordville, FL 32327
(850) 926-0980
Or in Jefferson County on Wednesdays, 9:00am to 12:00 noon and 1:00pm to 4:00pm:
R.J. Bailar Public Library
375 South Water St.
Monticello, FL 32344
Follow CareerSource Capital Region on social media to learn about upcoming job fairs, recruitment events, workshops and other solutions that are available.
Facebook: CareerSource Capital Region
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/careersourcecapitalregion
Twitter: @CareerSourceCR
Instagram: @careersourcecr
For more information about the Capital Region’s Unemployment Report for August 2024, click here.
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About CareerSource Capital Region
CareerSource Capital Region connects employers with qualified, skilled talent and Floridians with employment and career development opportunities to achieve economic prosperity in Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon and Wakulla counties. Solutions for career seekers include one-on-one career advising, interviewing and resume-writing assistance, employment workshops, and labor market information. Solutions for employers include recruitment assistance, skills assessments for applicants, customized training, and information on tax incentives. Employers and career seekers are matched through the Employ Florida Marketplace system. Most solutions are provided at no cost. This initiative was supported by the U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Agriculture as part of awards totaling $5,399,720 with 0% financed from non-governmental sources. Programs funded through CareerSource Capital Region are equal opportunity programs with auxiliary aids and services available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Persons using TTY/TTD equipment use Florida Relay Service 711. A proud partner of the American Job Center network.