The Tampa Bay area led the state in job creation last year with 41,400 new private sector jobs added over the year. Florida has added more than 1 million private sector jobs since 2010, according to the governor’s office.
Governor Scott said in a press announcement, “It is exciting that the Tampa area continues to lead the state in job creation, with more than 41,000 new jobs over the year. As more businesses choose to invest in Tampa, more Floridians are able to find the opportunities they need to succeed.”
The Pensacola MSA created 2,700 new private jobs, primarily in education and health services.
TAMPA BAY: 41,400 jobs
Unemployment rate in the Tampa area declined by 0.9 percentage point over the year to 4.4 percent in December.
New Jobs Created:
Education and health services: 11,300
Leisure and hospitality: 11,100
Professional and business services: 10,400
The Tampa Bay area was first among the state metro areas in job demand in December with 44,797 openings. The metro area was also first in the state in demand for high-wage, high-skill science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) occupations, with 13,582 openings in December.
ORLANDO: 35,500 jobs
Unemployment rate declined by 0.8 percentage point over the year to 4.3 percent in December.
New Jobs Created:
Leisure and hospitality: 12,600
Professional and business services: 7,900
Trade, transportation, and utilities: 6,700
The metro area had the second-highest job demand in Florida in December with 34,279 openings and also ranked number two in high-wage, high-skill science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) demand in the state, with 8,831 openings in those fields.
FORT LAUDERDALE AREA: 24,400
Unemployment rate declined by 0.7 percentage point over the year to 4.3 percent in December.
New Jobs Created:
Professional and business services: 10,600
Construction: 5,000
Leisure and hospitality: 3,000
In December, the Fort Lauderdale metro area added the most jobs of all the state’s metro areas in professional and business services. The Fort Lauderdale metro area job demand stands at 24,302 openings, including 6,178 openings in high-wage, high-skill science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) openings.
MIAMI: 18,000 jobs
Unemployment rate declined by 0.1 percentage point over the year to 5.8 percent in December.
New Jobs Created:
Leisure and hospitality: 6,700
Trade, transportation, and utilities: 5,900
The Miami metro area had the third highest job demand in Florida in December with 31,817 job openings, including 7,271 openings for high-wage, high-skill science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) occupations.
JACKSONVILLE: 16,600 jobs
Unemployment rate declined by 0.8 percentage point over the year to 4.5 percent in December.
New Jobs Created:
Leisure and hospitality: 5,500
Education and health services: 4,800
Trade, transportation, and utilities: 3,800
In December, the Jacksonville area had 18,907 job openings and had 4,496 openings for high-wage, high-skill science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) jobs.
WEST PALM BEACH: 13,000 jobs
Unemployment rate declined by 0.3 percentage point over the year to 4.5 percent in December.
New Jobs Created:
Professional and business services: 6,900
Trade, transportation, and utilities: 3,100
Education and health services: 3,100
The West Palm Beach metro area also had 19,935 job openings in December, including 5,375 high-wage, high-skill science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) openings.
NAPLES: 2,900 jobs
Unemployment rate declined by 0.5 percentage point over the year to 4.4 percent in December.
New Jobs Created:
Education and health services: 1,100
Leisure and hospitality: 1,000
The Naples metro area had 4,482 job openings in December, and the area also had 808 openings for high-wage, high-skill science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) occupations.
PENSACOLA: 2,700 jobs
Unemployment rate declined by 0.5 percentage point over the year to 4.7 percent in December.
New Jobs Created:
Education and health services: 1,000
The industry with the largest job gain in the Pensacola metro area over the year was education and health services with 1,000 new jobs.
The Pensacola metro area had 4,411 job openings in December and 1,004 openings for high-wage, high-skill science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) occupations.