Alachua County unemployment dips below 5% as Gainesville home sales rise

State data show Alachua County’s unemployment rate fell roughly half a percentage point between August and September, dropping below 5%, while the local labor force added more than 4,000 workers. Gainesville bucked a statewide housing slowdown, with the number of homes sold climbing more than 7.5% compared to the same month last year, though the average sale price edged down slightly. Both figures trail Florida’s overall numbers, where unemployment averaged 4.2% in September.

Sources: WCJB TV20