Workforce Characteristics
Sarasota County’s enviable lifestyle, with its small-town feel, superior schools, and variety of recreational and cultural offerings, means people want to live and work here. Sarasota County’s educated and creative workforce is diverse enough to satisfy both new and expanding businesses. Almost half of Sarasota County’s population is in the prime working age range of 25 to 64, a labor force of 178,448. Adding the labor pool from bordering Manatee and Charlotte counties expands the total to about 400,354.
| October 2008 unemployment rate: | 7.8% |
| October 2007 unemployment rate: | 5.1% |
Labor Force Summary
|
Year |
Labor Force |
Employment |
Unemployment Rate |
|
2007 |
178,448 |
170,749 |
4.30% |
|
2006 |
178,009 |
172,521 |
3.10% |
|
2005 |
174,728 |
169,451 |
3.00% |
|
2004 |
166,944 |
160,570 |
3.80% |
|
2003 |
160,336 |
153,376 |
4.30% |
|
2002 |
156,870 |
149,607 |
4.60% |
|
2001 |
150,087 |
144,230 |
3.90% |
|
2000 |
148,844 |
144,088 |
3.20% |
Source: Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation, Labor Market Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Program released 4/01/08
Employment by Industry
| Industry Sector |
Employment |
Percentage |
| Agriculture |
288 |
0.2% |
| Construction |
15,511 |
10.0% |
| Manufacturing |
7,501 |
4.8% |
| Wholesale Trade |
4,233 |
2.7% |
| Retail Trade |
21,838 |
14.1% |
| Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities |
2,918 |
1.9% |
| Services |
78,723 |
50.7% |
| Finance, Real Estate, Insurance |
10,549 |
6.8% |
| Other Services |
6,606 |
4.3% |
| Government |
7,099 |
4.6% |
| Total, All Industries |
155,250 |
100.0% |
Source: Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation, Labor Market Statistics, (ES-202),2007
Educational Attainment (Highest Level)
|
Description |
Sarasota County |
Florida |
U.S. |
| Population 25 years and over |
288,817 |
12,588,083 |
197,892,369 |
| Less than 9th grade |
7,233 |
712,680 |
12,575,318 |
| 9th to 12th grade, no diploma |
21,147 |
1,186,795 |
18,098,125 |
| High school graduate (incl. equivalency) |
90,821 |
3,962,460 |
59,658,315 |
| Some college, no degree |
63,395 |
2,422,966 |
38,522,312 |
| Associate degree |
20,722 |
1,060,738 |
14,704,788 |
| Bachelor's degree |
53,895 |
2,123,627 |
34,364,477 |
| Graduate or professional degree |
31,604 |
1,118,817 |
19,969,034 |
| Percent high school graduate or higher |
90.2% |
84.9% |
84.51% |
| Percent bachelor's degree or higher |
29.6% |
25.8% |
27.5% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau; 2007 American Community Survey
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