Florida’s Tough Immigration Enforcement Hinder Job Growth, Lags Nationally — FL Jobs Plummet After E-Verify Mandate

[Para 1: The Lead] Following passage of a strict immigration enforcement law in May 2023, Florida’s job growth has slowed, with the state now facing a labor shortage as private employers struggle under new E-Verify penalties. [Para 2: Supporting details & Context] The law requires employers with 25 or more employees to use the federal E-Verify system, imposing daily $1,000 fines and license suspensions for non-compliance. Since then, Florida’s job growth has slowed to half its 2023 pace and stagnated since February 2024, ranking 26th in job gains as of late 2025. Construction and hospitality lost 7,500 and 2,500 jobs respectively, sectors heavily reliant on immigrant labor. Two-thirds of contractors report labor shortages, with one in five retirements not replaced in construction. [Para 3: Contextual Data] Of Florida’s construction workforce, 33% are non-citizens; in agriculture, the figure approaches 50%. To规避 E-Verify limits, some farms keep staff under 25. Despite a reported $47,000 average wage for farmworkers, U.S. workers are not filling these roles. The Wall Street Journal warns that expanding the mandate without legal pathways will continue to stifle business expansion and growth.