Tampa Area Unemployment Down, Jobs Up, State Says

TAMPA, FL — Tampa Bay area residents looking for work may find opportunities in the region more plentiful. According to Gov. Rick Scott’s office, the Tampa area has added 39,800 new private-sector jobs over the year in July.

There’s also good news on the unemployment front, according to the state. The Tampa area’s unemployment rate was logged at 4.8 percent in July, down by 0.7 percentage points over the last year.

The state’s recently released jobs report for the area came with a bonus announcement. Aero Simulation Inc., a company that makes flight simulators, plans to expand in Hillsborough County. The expansion is expected to create 40 new jobs and bring a $7.5 million investment to the area.

ASI currently employs more than 60 people in Tampa. The company’s expansion involves a move from its Tampa facility on Adamo Drive to a new 60,000-square-foot facility in the county. New jobs will include posts for aviation simulation developers, engineers and more, the state said.

“We’re excited to expand our presence in Tampa and embark on our next phase of growth in a state-of-the-art facility,” ASI’s president, Dr. C. Michael McCarthy, said in a statement. “We’re proud to be a part of a military-friendly community and look forward to developing new programs and systems here that will ensure that our nation’s pilots and operators are the best trained in the world.”

Over the past year, the Tampa area job base grew the most in the professional and business services sector with 11,300 new jobs, the state reported. The hospitality and leisure industry also saw 8,300 new jobs added. Utilities, trade and transportation added 7,400 new jobs.

“In July, the Tampa area continues to be ranked first among the state metro areas in job demand with 47,885 openings,” the state noted. “The Tampa area also remained first in the state in demand for high-skill, high-wage STEM occupations with 15,349 openings in July.”

To see the statewide employment data for July 2016, visit Florida Jobs online. To learn more about ASI, check out the company’s website.

Image via Shutterstock