Employment

For the second month in a row the Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island metro area led Southwest Florida in annual job growth over the 12 months ending in March, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, besting the statewide figure by almost a half percent. The Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island area lead the same category by itself for March and shared that distinction with the Cape Coral-Fort Myers area in February.

The Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island metro area led southwest Florida in annual job growth over the 12 months ending in February, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, besting the statewide figure by almost a half percent. Total nonfarm payroll employment for the Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island area grew by 2.7 percent year-over-year adding 4,500 jobs for a 173,700 employment total in that region.

Two Southwest Florida metropolitan areas -- Cape Coral-Fort Myers and Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island – tied for the region’s lead in job growth for the 12 months ending in January.Both areas reported 3.2 percent growth in total non-farm employment, with 9,600 and 5,400 jobs respectively. That’s compared to the overall state growth rate of 2.7 percent.

Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics shows Florida ranked eighth in job growth over 2023. Many work sectors in the state registered job increases.

With the full House ready to take up a bill that would loosen work restrictions for 16- and 17-year-old youths, the Senate began moving forward Tuesday with a proposal that would not be as far-reaching.The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee approved a proposal (SB 1596) that would allow 16- and 17-year-olds to work as late as midnight when school is scheduled the next day, a change from the current 11 p.m. limit.

A House Republican on Monday filed a bill that could lift restrictions on the numbers of hours that 16-year-old and 17-year-old youths can work in Florida.

Lawmakers in several states are embracing legislation to let children work in more hazardous occupations, longer hours on school nights and in expanded roles including serving alcohol in bars and restaurants as young as 14.The efforts to significantly roll back labor rules are largely led by Republican lawmakers to address worker shortages and in some cases run afoul of federal regulations.

Better Together to host Fort Myers Nationwide Day of Second Chances job fair on Thursday for job seekers with barriers to employment

Following the devastation of Hurricane Ian, we know that many have lost so much, including their place of employment. With that in mind, there are many businesses who are currently hiring and need employees in varying fields and positions.

Did you ever wonder how “they” come up with a complicated estimate of something, like the tons of debris create by Hurricane Ian, which hit Lee County as a Category 4 tropical cyclone Sept. 28?A Lake Mary-based company helping to compile that figure is in a hiring blitz, turning Hurricane Ian into an opportunity to earn as much as $1,300 a week.Call the position a Post-Cyclonic Rubbish Removal Quality Control Specialist, but the reality is less fancy: stand around and watch trash collectors collects trash. And write it down.Thompson Consulting Services needs people to document how much hurricane-related debris is collected by companies Lee County has hired to haul away all the tree limbs, coconuts, garbage, and other debris. The job is not collecting the trash, but counting the amount that others do.