Tampa adds 39,700 private sector jobs

TAMPA — The Tampa area added 39,700 new private sector jobs in the last year, the highest number of jobs in all metro areas in Florida, according to an announcement from Florida Gov. Rick Scott.

“This achievement is a direct reflection of the collaborative efforts of our public and private sector leaders to make Tampa and Hillsborough County the most desirable place in the nation to build, relocate, or expand a business,” says Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corp. CEO and President Craig Richard in a statement.

According to a press release, Tampa's unemployment rate was 4.1%, down 0.8% percentage points from a year ago.

The Tampa area remained first among state metro areas in job demand in July with 43,523 openings. The Tampa area also continues to rank first in the state in demand for high-skill, high-wage STEM occupations with 14,293 openings in July, the statement says.