Southwest Florida’s labor force increased by 6,287 year-over-year in March, according to data from FloridaCommerce. The Naples area showed the biggest growth, increasing by 3,514 or 1.8% over the year, while the Fort Myers area labor force grew by 2,773 or 0.7%. The Naples area private sector employment increased by 3,600 jobs over the year with the industries gaining the most jobs being construction, increasing by 800 jobs, and leisure and hospitality, increasing by 800 jobs. Fort Myers area’s private sector employment grew by 1,800 jobs over the year. Area industries gaining the most jobs over the year were construction, increasing by 2,400 jobs, and government, increasing by 1,600 jobs. The Naples area had a 3.1% unemployment rate in March 2024, a 0.6% increase over the year. Fort Myers area unemployment rate was 3.4% in March 2024, up 0.4% point over the year.