Finding a job in Sarasota

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Sarasota, FL is not only known for being a popular retirement area and having some of the most beautiful sandy beaches in the world. This southwest Florida region has a long history of being a place where new, offbeat ideas are born. This town is full of employment opportunities for people with different interests and educational backgrounds. In contrast to the major companies operating here, there is also a developing small business community. Also, business-friendly tax policies make this town a desirable place to work. No wonder Florida movers have never been busier! The overall unemployment rate is 4.6% which means finding a job in Sarasota is not that difficult and we’ll tell you where to look.

People sitting at a large table with laptops looking at a woman standing in the corner of the room holding some papers — Sarasota is a fun place to live. More importantly for entrepreneurs, its flourishing economy provides a good setting for starting a business.

Industries providing jobs in Sarasota

The key driving force of Sarasota’s economy is tourism. In addition to tourism, transportation, and trade are some of the most prominent sectors. In the leisure and hospitality sector, unemployment rates are a little lower than the region’s overall rate, as well as the US average. Furthermore, Sarasota offers a large job market for those working in education, healthcare, and social services. For example, facilities like the Englewood Community Hospital, the Venice Regional Bayfront Health, and the Doctors Hospital of Sarasota provide many job opportunities for Sarasota’s residents.

Furthermore, manufacturing industries including magnetic sensors, wood products, machine parts, hydraulic valves, aviation equipment, and electronics employ a lot of people. A significant number of jobs is provided by software development firms. Moreover, companies involved in the shipping industry are also among major employers. Management, professional and related occupations provide 27% of the jobs and about 25% of the workforce are in sales and office jobs.

Common professions in Sarasota

There are some professions that are more common here than in most US cities. These include zoologists and wildlife biologists, pest control specialists, construction and related workers, fiberglass laminators and fabricators, ophthalmic laboratory technicians, skin care specialists, tile and marble setters and nuclear medicine technologists.

Two girls in caps and gowns hugging on graduation day, aiming towards finding a job in Sarasota — Numerous educational institutions, such as the Ringling College Of Art And Design and the New College of Florida attract young, talented people year after year.

Employers that make finding a job in Sarasota easier

So, the major employers in the Sarasota area are:

W.G. Mills Inc – Construction managers, general contractors
Dooley and Mack Constructors Inc – Construction managers, general contractors
Tropicana Products Inc – Fruit juice producer
PGT Industries – Manufacturer of custom doors, windows and patio rooms
Walmart – Retail
Publix – Grocery store chain
Winn Dixie – Grocery store chain
Pinnacle Towers Inc – Telecommunication tower acquisition and site management
Bon Secours – Venice Hospital & Healthcare
School Board of Education – Education
Vengroff Williams & Associations Inc – Credit and collection agency; accounts receivable management
Taylor Woodrow Inc – Community developer
Doctors Hospital of Sarasota – Hospital and outpatient services & affiliates
Sarasota Memorial Hospital – Healthcare facility
Sun Hydraulics – Designer and manufacturer of hydraulic cartridge valves and manifolds
Administrative Concepts Corp – Employee administration
L-3 Communications Aviation Recorders – Cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder manufacturer
Comdial Corporation – Develops and markets communications solutions for businesses and government organizations
The Zenith – Insurance company
Capgemini – Professional services and business consulting corporation

Money matters

If you are planning a family move to Florida, your priority should be finding a job in Sarasota that can support your family’s needs. The average annual household income in Sarasota is $43,244. Unfortunately, this is below the US average, owing to a high number of low-paying jobs the service industry offers. The median home price is $169,100. Over 50% of homes are rented and the median rent is $933.

Business people - some of them with laptops, some of them gathered around a table, a chart, a clock — HuB – a co-working space and innovation center – provides an abundance of networking opportunities.

What else to expect from Sarasota?

The good

As we mentioned, this small city has so much to offer. New residents can expect:

Finding a job in Sarasota;
Receiving an excellent education;
Finding housing within their price range;
A nice, warm climate;
A lot of entertainment options.

Of course, you need to have a life outside of work, too. If in your case warm weather year-round and world-class beaches aren’t enough to have fun, don’t worry – there are many indoor activities you can enjoy as well. A thriving local art and cultural scene has made this town a popular place for young professionals, retirees, and entire families. Moreover, you will be amazed by the variety of dining and shopping options. Also worth mentioning, this area is approximately two hours from Orlando and only an hour away from Tampa.

Sarasota cultural attractions include many artistic, dance, musical, and theatrical venues, such as the Historic Asolo Theater, Sarasota Opera, Sarasota Ballet, the Banyan Theater Company, the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Florida Studio Theatre, the Sarasota Players, etc. Additionally, there are several festivals, including the annual Sarasota Chalk Festival and the Sarasota Film Festival.

The bad

On the flip side, as the population continues to grow, the area has difficulties keeping up with infrastructure needs. Cross country movers Sarasota work day and night to serve the town’s growing population. Due to an influx of residents and a record-breaking number of tourists, traffic jams are a problem you’ll need to learn to live with after finding a job in Sarasota. The majority of people still drive to work, while public transportation is rarely used, which contributes significantly to traffic congestion. Only 5.4% of employed residents work at home.

Magazines recognizing Sarasota

As you can see, the Sarasota area is a great place live and start a career. Several renowned magazines have noticed that and given it the praise it deserves.

Forbes Magazine named Sarasota the 44th best place to live and work out of the country’s largest 150 metro areas.
In addition, Entrepreneur Magazine named it the country’s 6th best medium-sized city.
Also, Expansion Magazine named this city as the 6th best metropolitan area for the standard of living in the country.
Finally, Money Magazine named it the country’s best small city.