Businesses to continue hiring

Looking to beef up your staff?

You're not alone. A survey of employers in Florida and on the Gulf Coast by Manpower shows nearly one in five plans to hire in the second quarter.

The strength of the labor market is surprising because employers in Southwest Florida tend to hire according to seasonal population changes, especially in areas like Fort Myers. Traditionally, the second quarter is a weaker hiring time because of the slowdown in tourism and real estate in the summer.

The chart shows the results of the hiring survey for the second quarter in Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater and Florida. There are no surveys for the Naples, Punta Gorda or Sarasota metro areas.