Among the 20 Florida metropolitan areas tracked by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statitics for its report on Employees on NonFarm Payrolls by State and Metropolitan Area, the Tampa metro area was the top performer based on numerical increase in nonfarm employees over the period from July 2011 to July 2012.
The Tampa area increased its number of nonfarm employees by 20,500, the biggest increase among the metro areas. It accounted for nearly 29% of Florida’s total increase of 70,800, and it was higher by 6,200 from the second-ranking Miami area, which posted an increase of 14,300. Aside from the Tampa and Miami areas, the only other area that posted a five-digit growth was the Orlando area.
| Top 10 Metro Areas in Increase in Number of NonFarm Employees | |
| Metro Area | Increase |
| 1. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | 20,500 |
| 2. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach | 14,300 |
| 3. Orlando-Kissimee-Sanford | 10,200 |
| 4. Naples-Marco Island | 3,500 |
| 5. Jacksonville | 1,800 |
| 6. Lakeland-Winter Haven | 1,700 |
| 6. North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota | 1,700 |
| 7. Ocala | 1,100 |
| 8. Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 1,000 |
| 9. Punta Gorda | 900 |
By rate of job growth, however, it was the Naples-Marco Island that posted the biggest increase over the one-year period. It increased its number of nonfarm employees by 3.2%. The Tampa area was third, with a growth rate of 1.8%, beating the Orlando and Miami areas, and the statewide growth rate of 1.0%. It also surpassed the growth rates of many other metro areas across the country.
| Top 7 Metro Areas in Rate of Increase | |
| 1. Naples-Marco Island | 3.2% |
| 2. Punta Gorda | 2.2% |
| 3. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | 1.8% |
| 4. Palm Coast | 1.6% |
| 4. Sebastian-Vero Beach | 1.6% |
| 5. Ocala | 1.2% |
| 6. Orlando-Kissimee-Sanford | 1.0% |
Based on number of nonfarm employees as of July this year, the chart-topper was the Miami area, followed by the Tampa and Orlando areas. These three metro areas are located in the central and southern parts of Florida and all have access to beaches.
The city of Miami is known for its South Beach nightlife, shopping and beaches, the Everglades National Park and cruise ships. It’s a major center of commerce, finance, culture, media, entertainment, international trade and the arts.
Tampa is known for its Ybor City cigars, nightlife, waterfront homes, Busch Gardens, University of South Florida, McDill Air Force Base, retirement communities, and access to beautiful Gulf Coast beaches. Its parks, cruise ships, fishing piers, museums and historical sites are also popular.
Orlando is known for its Disney theme parks, particularly the Walt Disney World Resort. It is among the top destinations of tourists and locations of conventions and conferences.
| Ranking of Metro Areas in Number of NonFarm Employees as of July 2012 | |
| Metro Area | Number of Nonfarm Employees |
| 1. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach | 2,191,500 |
| 2. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | 1,136,900 |
| 3. Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | 1,010,700 |
| 4. Jacksonville | 584,000 |
| 5. North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota | 237,100 |
| 6. Cape Coral-Fort Myers | 197,900 |
| 7. Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 193,300 |
| 8. Lakeland-Winter Haven | 192,400 |
| 9. Tallahassee | 160,200 |
| 10. Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent | 156,800 |
| 11. Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach | 152,800 |
| 12. Gainesville | 120,000 |
| 13. Port St. Lucie | 115,100 |
| 14. Naples-Marco Island | 112,100 |
| 15. Ocala | 89,900 |
| 16. Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin | 80,300 |
| 17. Panama City-Lynn Haven-Panama City Beach | 73,500 |
| 18. Sebastian-Vero Beach | 43,600 |
| 19. Punta Gorda | 41,300 |
| 20. Palm Coast | 18,600 |