Gulf Coast January employment jumps

It's no surprise employers are having a hard time finding qualified people: Everybody's looking for help.

Employment surged in the Fort Myers and Naples areas by more than 5% in January year-over-year while employers scrambled to hire staff for the busy winter season.

The construction sector posted the most impressive year-over-year employment gain statewide in January, at 8.3%. Professional and business services employment rose 5.1%, while leisure and hospitality rose 5% in that same period.

Florida's industry laggards were information, which includes publishing and broadcasting, falling 0.7%. Government hiring rose 0.5% and manufacturing increased 0.8%.