Gov. Scott: Tampa Area Added More Than 41,000 New Jobs Over the Year

June 16, 2017

TAMPA, Fla. — Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that the Tampa area added 41,600 new private-sector jobs in the last year, the second-highest number of jobs among all metro areas. Tampa’s unemployment rate was 3.8 percent, down 0.5 percentage point from one year ago. Statewide, Florida businesses created 21,900 new jobs in May and the unemployment rate dropped to 4.3 percent, the lowest rate since August 2007. Since December 2010, Florida businesses have created 1,377,100 new private-sector jobs.

Governor Scott said, “Over the year, the Tampa area added more than 41,000 new jobs and led the state in job growth for several industries, which is great news. We know the difference that a job can make in a family’s life and that is why we will continue to fight each day to make it easier for Florida businesses to grow and create new opportunities across our state.”

Tampa led the state in job growth over the year in the following industries: professional and business services with 13,300 new jobs, construction with 9,100 new jobs, other services with 3,100 new jobs, and information with 700 new jobs. The Tampa area remained first among the state metro areas in job demand in May with 48,532 openings. The Tampa area also continues to rank first in the state in demand for high-skill, high-wage STEM occupations with 15,555 openings in May.

For 62 consecutive months, Florida’s annual job growth rate of 3 percent is exceeding the nation’s rate of 1.8 percent. In May, 28,671 Floridians were placed in jobs by CareerSource Tampa Bay and the state’s other 23 regional workforce boards.

To view the May 2017 employment data visit www.floridajobs.org/labor-market-information/labor-market-information-press-releases/monthly-press-releases.