Florida cities dominate list for hottest job markets: study

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Three Florida cities could be the best destination for the unemployed after Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa were named in the top five for the hottest job markets in America for 2023.

Conducted by the Wall Street Journal, the study placed Jacksonville second overall with a top score in change in labor force size and second in payroll change. The city also ranked sixth in unemployment rate.

Orlando took third place, with top ten marks in the change in average weekly wages, unemployment rate, change in labor force size, and payroll change.

Tampa, in fourth, also received the top mark in change in average weekly wages, and a third place rating for change in labor force size.

Furthermore, the journal attributed Jacksonville’s hot market to companies ranging from corporate offices to warehouses relocating to the area, per a staffing source.

In addition, Miami placed just outside the top five in sixth place, with high marks in unemployment rate and change in average weekly wages. Of the four Florida cities, Miami also received the lowest rating of 40th in labor force participation.

For its findings, the Wall Street Journal partnered with Moody’s Analytics evaluating 380 metro areas. Its research specifically looked over the unemployment rate, the labor-force participation rate, changes to employment levels, the size of the labor force and wages.

According to Moody’s, Florida remained attractive for its affordability and lack of state income tax. It also noted banks, mortgage lenders and real-estate businesses hired aggressively in the state in 2023.

Notably, larger cities with over one million residents were ranked separately from smaller ones.

Just outpacing the three Florida metros, Salt Lake City, Utah, was named to the top spot. The Mountain West city received top five marks in unemployment rate, labor force participation, change in labor force size, and change in average weekly wages.

Overall, the journal noted workers flocked to areas of Utah and Florida for their “plentiful job opportunities, wage growth, affordability and recreational offerings.”

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma nestled in fifth place with a strong score in change in average weekly wages. Austin, Texas and Nashville, Tennessee each tied for seventh place while Seattle, Washington and Dallas, Texas rounded out the top 10.