Florida
‘It feels very saturated:’ Job seekers face challenges despite Florida’s economic strength
ORLANDO, Fla. – The Central Florida Employment Council Career Fair, held at the Central Florida Fairgrounds, drew hundreds of job seekers eager to explore new opportunities.
This, just days after Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that Florida’s labor force exceeded 11.1 million in January 2025, reinforcing the state’s economic strength. Job growth continued across most major industries, including manufacturing, which reached 430,800 jobs.
But among the job seekers at the fair was Josh Cothern, who is on the hunt for a marketing position. Despite the encouraging numbers, Cothern expressed the challenges he faces in securing employment.
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“It feels very saturated,” Cothern told New 6. “I’ve been all over LinkedIn and different job boards, and it seems like every time a new job gets posted, there’s 30, 40, 50 applications in the first 10 minutes.”
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The latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics offers a glimmer of hope for job seekers. Florida’s labor force has grown or remained stable over the last 10 out of 12 months. FloridaCommerce reported that the Orlando metro area gained the highest number of private sector jobs over the past year among all metro areas, with more than 393,000 jobs posted online.
In January, the Orlando metro area led the state in job gains, particularly in leisure and hospitality, which added 7,500 jobs; financial activities, which saw an increase of 3,000 jobs; and professional and business services, which grew by 2,400 jobs.
“Florida added 113,600 jobs (+1.3%) over the year in January 2025. Since May 2020, employers across the state have expanded their workforce in 54 of the past 57 months. Florida’s private sector job growth rate of 1.3% outpaced the national rate of 1.2% over the same period. Additionally, Florida’s statewide unemployment rate has remained below the national average for 51 consecutive months since November 2020,” according to DeSantis’ office.
CBS Business Analyst Jill Schlesinger commented on the current national job market trends.
“What we are seeing is some of the pillars of growth that had added jobs in the economy are slowing down,” Schlesinger said.
Despite stable numbers, the job search remains an anxious endeavor for many.
Cothern remains optimistic, saying “As soon as I am offered the right thing, I am excited to take it.”
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FORT MYERS, Fla. – An injured manatee and her calf are recovering after authorities on a boat rescued them from the Orange River near Fort Myers on Thursday.
What we know:
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office said its Marine Unit, Advanced Technology Support Unit, drone pilots and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission helped in saving the pair after the mother was found hurt in the water and in need of medical attention.
READ: Missing Florida man found stuck in mud without food or water for days: PFD
Video shows authorities pulling the frantic manatees safely onto the boat in netting before taking them to shore.
Courtesy: Lee County Sheriff’s Office
Both animals will be taken to ZooTampa for evaluation and medical care.
What we don’t know:
LCSO did not say the extent of the mother’s injuries.
By the numbers:
As of Feb. 20, there have been 85 manatee deaths across Florida in 2026, according to the FWC. Last year reportedly saw a total of 632 manatee deaths.
Dig deeper:
Earlier this month, the FWC began investigating a spike in manatee deaths, specifically in Lee County, where officials say 25 were found dead within a week.
READ: FWC investigating spike in manatee deaths over the past week
The FWC believes these manatee deaths could be from several factors: cold stress, a lack of seagrass and polluted waterways.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Trump threatens tariffs on countries that supply oil to Cuba
Trump warned Cuba to reach an agreement with the U.S. after signing an executive order to impose tariffs on countries that supply the island with oil.
HAVANA (Reuters) – Four people were killed and seven others were wounded on Feb. 25 after a speedboat from Florida entered Cuban waters and opened fire on Cuban forces, who returned fire, Cuba’s Interior Ministry said.
All four dead were aboard the Florida-based speedboat, and another six were injured, Cuba said. In addition, the Cuban commander of border patrol boat was wounded, Cuba said.
The wounded foreign attackers were evacuated and received medical attention, Cuba said.
The incident took place amid heightened tension between Cuba and the United States, which has blocked virtually all oil shipments to the island, increasing pressure on the Communist-run government. American forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas on Jan. 3, removing a key Cuban ally from power.
“Faced with the current challenges, Cuba reaffirms its commitment to protecting its territorial waters, based on the principle that national defense is a fundamental pillar for the Cuban state in safeguarding its sovereignty and stability in the region,” the Cuban statement said.
Reporting by Daniel Trotta in Havana.
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