Job Growth in St. John's County (St. Augustine, Golf: real estate, contractor, beaches)

[fsquid]

Saw this pop up on my Yahoo mail today. #12 on the list is St. John's. Don't know what to make of it since the growth percentage is from the last 8 years which includes all the job growth in 03-early 06.

oh well, it is on the link below for your pleasure.

Counties With Best Job Growth - Yahoo! Real Estate

[riveree]

Well, looking at this quote here:

Now the county is working on incentives, like lower fees on new development, to attract businesses as well. County Commissioner Mark Miner hopes that will bring more manufacturers and other non-service oriented firms, going forward. Some of the largest existing employers located there include the Florida National Guard, defense contractor Northrop Grumman and Flagler hospital, all located in St. Augustine.

All the listed "largest employers" - National Guard, Northrup Grumman, Flagler Hospital - have been there for years, long before 2003. The context they were used in is a bit misleading, IMO.

The most recent "big" employer to come to St. John's County was the World Golf Village back in the late 1990's and it has yet to reach the level of success promised.

If they were basing the growth percentage on the sheer number of new St. John's county households and assuming those households have some sort of job somewhere, well then I understand the "growth" part (I think ).

St. John's county has St. Augustine, a fabulous tourist attraction. Nothing wrong with that. People come from all over the world to visit St. Augustine. Why not continue to bank on the beautiful beaches, rich history and art scene?