Hiring spree

Looking for a job? The Cape Coral-Fort Myers area has the brightest employment outlook in the nation, according to employment firm Manpower.

Manpower says 37% of employers in the Cape Coral-Fort Myers area plan to add staff in the first quarter next year. The firm says prospects are bright across many sectors, including construction, durable-goods manufacturing, professional services, education, health and hospitality.

Employment prospects are also promising in the first quarter in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater and Lakeland-Winter Haven areas. (Data are not available for the Sarasota-Bradenton or Naples regions.)

The Gulf Coast's sunny employment picture mirrors the outlook for the state. Manpower says 23% of companies it surveyed statewide plan to boost staff in the first quarter and just 5% plan to reduce employment.

The employment picture tends to be especially bright in the first quarter because of the boost in tourism during the winter months. And although many employers say they plan to add staff, their biggest challenge will remain finding qualified people now that the unemployment rate has fallen to 5.1%.