From December 2024 to March 2025, Florida’s private sector saw gross job gains of 510,563 from opening and expanding establishments, while gross job losses from closing and contracting establishments reached 480,933, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This resulted in a net employment gain of 29,630 jobs during the first quarter of 2025. Regional Commissioner Victoria G. Lee stated that this figure contrasts with the previous quarter when gross job losses exceeded gains by 19,111.
Business Employment Dynamics (BED) statistics monitor changes in employment at private-sector businesses from one quarter to the next. The difference between gross job gains and losses represents the net change in employment.
During the first quarter of 2025, gross job gains made up 5.8 percent of private-sector employment in Florida, slightly higher than the national rate of 5.6 percent. Expanding establishments in Florida contributed 379,055 new jobs—an increase compared to the prior quarter—while opening establishments added another 131,508 jobs but showed a decrease from previous figures.
Gross job losses accounted for 5.5 percent of private-sector employment in Florida; nationally this figure was at 5.4 percent. Contracting establishments lost a total of 358,089 jobs—a reduction from the prior quarter—and closing establishments lost an additional 122,844 jobs.
Eight out of eleven major industry sectors in Florida experienced more job gains than losses during this period. Education and health services led with a net increase of 13,539 jobs after accounting for both gains and losses within the sector. Retail trade posted a net gain of 8,509 jobs; professional and business services followed with an increase of 6,965 jobs. Transportation and warehousing had the largest net loss among sectors at -7,585 jobs; leisure and hospitality also reported a net loss totaling -4,339 jobs.
The BED data series provides detailed information on gross job gains and losses by industry subsector across all states as well as U.S. territories and includes breakdowns by employer size class.
The next release covering Business Employment Dynamics for the second quarter of 2025 is scheduled for February 26, 2026.
The BED data are produced through a federal-state partnership under the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages program using existing records maintained by BLS.
