ICYMI: 2016 Brought 29,100 New Jobs To Tampa Bay Area

TALLAHASEE, FL — Tampa Bay area private-sector employers added 29,100 new jobs to the economy in 2016, according to figures released by Gov. Rick Scott’s office on Friday.

“The area remains first in the state for online job demand and job openings in high-wage STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) occupations,” Scott said in a Friday statement. “This is good news for Tampa families.”

The region’s unemployment rate was 4.5 percent in December 2016, Scott’s office also reported. All told, Florida businesses added 237,300 private-sector jobs statewide in 2016. That number brings the total number of jobs created since December 2010 to 1,262,100, Scott said.

“We want Florida to become the top destination for business growth and new opportunities, and we will continue to do all we can to help Florida compete in the global economy.”

The Tampa Bay industries that saw the biggest job growth over the past year were:

• Construction – 8,400
• Professional and business services – 6,700
• Trade, transportation and utilities – 4,900
• Education and health service – 4,500

The Tampa Bay area topped the state’s metro areas in job demand in December with 43,632 advertised openings, the state reported. It was also the state’s leader in STEM-related openings with 14,673 reported in December.

The state’s unemployment rate was 4.9 percent in December. The annual job growth rate of 3.3 percent topped the nation’s rate of 1.6 percent.

To view the state’s complete December 2016 employment report, visit the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity online.

To search for employment opportunities in your area, visit your local Patch’s Jobs Board.

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