Leon County's unemployment rate was 4.9% in August, up from 4.5% a year earlier and above Florida's 4.6%. More people are working, but job seekers grew faster.
Leon County’s unemployment rate was 4.9% in August, up from 4.5% in August 2025. The figure is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Local Area Unemployment Statistics, and August’s number is preliminary.
That puts the county above Florida, at 4.6%, and the nation, at 4.3%, on the same unadjusted basis.
More people working, more looking
The rise is not because the county lost jobs. More Leon County residents were working in August than a year earlier. But the number of people looking for work grew faster.
| Leon County | August 2025 | August 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor force | 162,575 | 164,251 | +1,676 |
| Employed | 155,196 | 156,121 | +925 |
| Unemployed | 7,379 | 8,130 | +751 |
| Unemployment rate | 4.5% | 4.9% | +0.4 points |
The labor force counts residents who have a job or are actively looking for one. The figures come from the BLS series for the county’s labor force, employment and unemployment.
The rate dipped from July, when it was 5.2%. Because these figures are not seasonally adjusted, comparing the same month a year apart is the fairer test.
How the neighbors compare
Among the counties that border Leon:
- Gadsden County, west of Tallahassee: 5.8%, up from 5.3%
- Jefferson County, east: 4.4%, up from 4.0%
- Wakulla County, south: 4.1%, up from 3.7%
Each rose by 0.4 to 0.5 points over the year, like Leon. Florida’s unadjusted rate went from 4.3% to 4.6%. The national rate fell, from 4.5% to 4.3%.
A gap in the record
There is no October 2025 figure for any county. The BLS marks that month “data unavailable due to the 2025 lapse in appropriations,” the federal government shutdown. So when October 2026 figures come out, there will be no year-earlier number to compare them with.
What it means for you
- Out of work? Florida’s Reemployment Assistance program handles unemployment claims.
- Thinking about the local economy? A 4.9% rate means about one in 20 people in the county’s labor force was looking for work in August.
- Starting something? Our new businesses page tracks companies registering in Tallahassee.
The BLS publishes September county figures later this fall. We will update this story when they are out.
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