Palm Beach County's jobless rate was 4.4% in September, up from 4.3% a year earlier, as about 1,200 fewer residents had jobs. Florida held at 4.2%.
Palm Beach County’s unemployment rate was 4.4% in September, up from 4.3% in September 2025. About 33,753 county residents were out of work and looking for a job. That is 288 more than a year earlier.
The bigger change was in jobs. About 741,824 residents were working in September, roughly 1,200 fewer than a year before.
The figures are the preliminary September estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Local Area Unemployment Statistics program. The BLS does not publish a monthly rate for Palm Beach Gardens itself, so the county rate is the closest measure for the city. The figures are not seasonally adjusted, so the fair comparison is with the same month a year earlier.
Palm Beach County against its neighbors
| Area | September 2026 | September 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 4.0% | 4.3% |
| Broward County | 4.1% | 4.0% |
| Florida | 4.2% | 4.2% |
| Palm Beach County | 4.4% | 4.3% |
| Martin County | 4.6% | 4.6% |
| St. Lucie County | 5.0% | 4.9% |
All rates are not seasonally adjusted. The county and state figures for September 2026 are preliminary. Sources: BLS series for Broward County, Martin County, St. Lucie County, Florida and the United States.
Palm Beach County ran a little above the statewide rate, which was unchanged from a year earlier. Broward County to the south and St. Lucie County to the north each rose 0.1 points, the same as Palm Beach. Martin County was unchanged. The national rate fell from 4.3% to 4%.
The numbers behind the rate
Across Palm Beach County in September, according to the BLS:
- 775,577 people were in the labor force, down from 776,486 a year earlier.
- 741,824 people had jobs, down from 743,021.
- 33,753 people were unemployed, up from 33,465.
The labor force counts people who have a job or are looking for one. The rate is the share of that labor force without a job and looking. These are counts of county residents, wherever they work, not counts of jobs based in the county.
The labor force shrank by about 900 people over the year. Employment fell by more than that, which is why the rate edged up even though the number looking for work grew only slightly.
Better than August, but watch the season
The rate fell from 4.6% in August to 4.4% in September. About 4,550 more residents were working than in August, and about 2,100 fewer were looking.
That looks like good news, and it may be. But the figures are not seasonally adjusted, so a change from one month to the next can reflect the season rather than the job market. Last year the September rate matched August’s, at 4.3%. The year-over-year comparison is the safer read.
| Month | Palm Beach County | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| September 2025 | 4.3% | 4.2% |
| October 2025 | not published | not published |
| November 2025 | 4.9% | 4.8% |
| December 2025 | 4.5% | 4.4% |
| January 2026 | 4.9% | 4.9% |
| February 2026 | 4.8% | 4.8% |
| March 2026 | 4.4% | 4.4% |
| April 2026 | 4.5% | 4.6% |
| May 2026 | 4.4% | 4.4% |
| June 2026 | 4.6% | 4.6% |
| July 2026 | 4.7% | 4.6% |
| August 2026 | 4.6% | 4.6% |
| September 2026 | 4.4% (preliminary) | 4.2% (preliminary) |
There is no October 2025 figure. The BLS lists that month as unavailable because of the lapse in federal appropriations that fall.
The BLS also revised the August county counts. August’s rate stayed at 4.6%, but the unemployed total moved from 35,862 to 35,839 and employment from 737,930 to 737,270. Our August story carries a note.
What it means for you
- If you are looking for work, the state’s Employ Florida job board lists openings across Palm Beach County.
- The September numbers will change. The BLS marks the latest month as preliminary and revises it the following month.
- October’s county figures come in the next BLS release for local areas. We will update this story when they are published.
- For more on the local economy, see our pages on new businesses and home prices.
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