[pianogal]

CNN money reports that Florida holds 5 of the top 15 cities for job growth. The next closest state is Texas with 3 cities.

1. Orlando rates the top spot as No. 1 in the country. With its growth in the high tech industry and medical research, Orlando is in line to add 72,600 jobs over the next 2 years with a 15% increase in high salary, white collar jobs.

Hottest jobs: Senior mechanical engineer ($80,400), physician's assistant ($76,000), IT project manager ($75,200), construction project manager ($71,200), electrical engineer (64,900)

6. West Palm Beach is No. 6 with huge gains in the commercial sector.
The hiring will come mostly from business-services firms, with competition among them so intense that employers are still offering signing bonuses, flexible hours, and other perks.

Hottest jobs Senior software developer ($86,100), senior mechanical engineer ($81,800), IT project manager ($80,400), construction project manager ($73,200)

7. Tampa is No. 7 with the percentage of people working in professional-services jobs at nearly twice the national average. Verizon, financial-services heavyweight Raymond James, and a cluster of medical-device manufacturers like Medline are helping to expand the job pool.
Tampa's growing port operations are also luring savvy importers.

Hottest jobs Senior software developer ($80,900), senior IT systems engineer ($75,500), IT project manager ($75,000), nurse practitioner ($70,200), construction project manager ($67,400)

12. Jacksonville at No. 12 benefits from affordable housing and plenty of jobs in transportation, distribution, and wholesale. Financial services, back-office operations, and medical research are growing in the region. It is also a city of young professionals - the median age is 36.

Hottest jobs IT project manager ($79,400), senior software developer ($77,800), financial controller ($76,800), physician's assistant ($75,900), construction project manager ($74,600)

15. Ft. Lauderdale at No. 15 is still reaping rewards from tourism and the fast growing office property sector indicates growing opportunities for professionals.

Hottest jobs Senior software developer ($84,600), financial controller ($78,600), IT project manager ($75,700), HR director ($73,500), construction project manager ($72,700)

[philly76er]

this is good stuff...more people should take advantage of the low cost of education in Florida so they can take advantage of these job opportunities. Education usually results in higher salaries, which should lead to less complaining on this board.

I am thinking about going back for my MBA and I can't believe how cheap graduate credits are if you have state residence.

[121804]

I agree with your comment to a certain extent. I have my Masters in Education & have to renew my license every 5 yrs for the state I am certified in. To renew, I need a certain number of continuing education hours.

I was floored by the LACK of public and/or private higher education opportunities in SW FL [primarily Sarasota & south]. And the ones that were available...none of them offered classes for secondary teachers; only elementary. I couldn't even find anything online.

And it would help to have professions & industries that needed college grads & MBAs, etc. in SW FL, but most chain restaurants & WalMarts don't require those things. It would help to have competitive companies that hire more than minimum wage workers to move to SW FL.

There is definitely opportunity for MANY fields in certain areas of Florida. Tons of states offer incredibly cheap classes; especially community colleges. It cost me $380 for 2 semester classes [which were a ton of fun also] last year in NE Ohio.

Don't know if I would be running to take advantage of a construction manager position anywhere in south FL, though.

[tallrick]

Sad thing is that none of those jobs pay enough to afford a home in Florida. Not entry level either, perhaps that's why they are not filled?

[121804]

Originally Posted by tallrick

Sad thing is that none of those jobs pay enough to afford a home in Florida. Not entry level either, perhaps that's why they are not filled?

Well, one has to decide what entails "buying" a home. I could go out today in SW FL & buy a home with $1,000 down by Adams.

Then, the reality comes into play: federal taxes, HOI, property taxes, general upkeep of a home, everyday living expenses, regular upkeep of a car, car insurance, monthly debt payments, food, health care, saving for retirement, oh, yeah, & every once & a while going out to dinner.

How is this done on $15/hr? It can't be; at least not in SW FL.

And in SW FL, those jobs are even hard to find.

There are just areas of FL where it is much, much more difficult to live on specific wages than others.

To live on $50k [gross yearly salary] or below in places such as Fort Myers is close to impossible. This is also assuming one has a family. A single person could probably get by if they lived by a strict budget.

And sometimes working a second job is not possible b/c some of these jobs that pay all of $15/hr are irregular schedules.

That list didn't mention one area even near SW FL. There are issues here. There is little to no professional base that requires a college degree.

[THX 1138]

I don't know but I can tell you this much the job section in the Palm Beach Post (Sunday Edition) has become thinner and thinner that past 6 months or so.

There is a plethora of low paying service jobs, that offer little if any benefits.

Govt. and County job listings are thin because of the joke of a idea tax cut.

Some of the companies that are hiring require certain backgrounds, experiences and education that is rare to find here and to lure someone from elsewhere based on the cost of living is a big problem. Not too long ago, the Palm Beach Post had a story on how many companies here are finding it hard to recruit prospects.

Something California is experiencing as well, though the state has a big strong high tech job sector and big employers, cost of living is not helping there either. Not many big employers in Florida and there are none coming any time soon. Scripps will take 20 years to blossom and that's a big IF.