Gov. Scott: Orlando Area Remains State Leader in Job Creation

Press Release

Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that the Orlando area continues to lead the state in job creation, adding 46,700 new private-sector jobs in the last year. The unemployment rate in Orlando was 3.9 percent, down 0.8 percentage point from one year ago. Statewide, Florida businesses created 17,800 new jobs in June and the unemployment rate dropped to 4.1 percent, the lowest rate since June 2007. Since December 2010, Florida businesses have created 1,397,400 new private-sector jobs. Governor Scott will also meet today with representatives of Allegiant Air at their Nevada headquarters to discuss the company's continued investments in Florida. Since Allegiant Air chose Florida as the best location for their new East Coast Training Center last year, their base at Orlando Sanford International Airport has become the company's largest in the United States. Allegiant Air is currently responsible for more than 15,000 direct jobs across the State of Florida.

Governor Scott said, "It is great news that the Orlando area continues to lead the state in job creation with more than 46,000 new jobs created over the past year. I am proud to meet with Allegiant Air today to recognize their continued investment in Florida. While this national company could have chosen any location for their new training center, they ultimately decided that Florida was the best place to grow their business and create new jobs. With the new $85 million Florida Job Growth Grant Fund, we will help encourage even more job creators to invest in our state."

Maurice J. Gallagher, Jr., Allegiant chairman and CEO, said, "With its premier vacation destinations, Florida has truly been a land of incredible opportunity and phenomenal growth for Allegiant. Our investments in the state have sparked growth system-wide and brought wonderful new opportunities to our customers, as well as our team members who live and work in the state. We are grateful to Governor Scott, and our partners at Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida, and look forward to continued success in the future."

Orlando led the state in job growth over the year in the following industries: leisure and hospitality with 13,200 new jobs; trade, transportation and utilities with 8,900 new jobs; financial activities with 5,400 new jobs; and manufacturing with 2,300 new jobs. In June, the Orlando area remained second among state metro areas in job demand with 36,843 job openings. Orlando also remained the second-highest metro area in demand for high-skill, high-wage STEM occupations with 10,490 openings.

For 63 consecutive months, Florida's annual job growth rate of 3.1 percent is exceeding the nation's rate of 1.7 percent. In June, 22,977 Floridians were placed in jobs by CareerSource Central Florida and the state's other 23 local workforce boards.

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