Fort Lauderdale, FL – January 2024 Job Market Report – Hiring Heats Up in Tourism and Hospitality

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Overview

The January 2024 jobs report for Fort Lauderdale paints a picture of a strengthening labor market, fueled by the resurgent tourism industry. Job growth outpaced the national average, with significant gains in leisure and hospitality establishments. Other sectors, such as construction and professional services, also saw positive movement.

Highlights

  • Fort Lauderdale’s unemployment rate dipped to 4.2% in January, down from 4.8% in December 2023.
  • The leisure and hospitality sector added the most new jobs, followed by construction and professional and business services.
  • Trade, transportation, and warehousing remained flat, while government jobs declined slightly.

What Industries and Occupations Grew

  • Leisure and hospitality led the surge in job growth, adding positions in food service, accommodation, and travel-related services.
  • Construction saw an uptick in hiring, particularly for laborers and carpenters.
  • Professional and business services added jobs in healthcare, management, and technical fields.

What Industries and Occupations Shrunk

  • The government sector shed a small number of jobs, concentrated in administrative support roles.
  • Trade, transportation, and warehousing saw minimal changes in employment levels.

Compare to Same Month Last Year

  • Fort Lauderdale’s job market has grown considerably compared to January 2023. The unemployment rate was higher at that time (5.1%), and job growth across all sectors was slower.
  • The leisure and hospitality industry, in particular, has seen a significant rebound from pandemic-related losses.

Compare to Previous Month

  • The January 2024 report shows a positive trend compared to December 2023. The unemployment rate fell slightly, and job growth continued across most sectors.
  • The increase in tourism activity during the winter season likely contributed to the positive shift in the January report.

Future Outlook

The Fort Lauderdale job market is expected to remain strong in the coming months, driven by the continued recovery of the tourism industry. Construction and professional services are also projected to see steady growth. However, potential economic headwinds, such as rising interest rates, could dampen hiring activity in the later part of the year.

10 Growing Occupations

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the following occupations are projected to see the fastest employment growth in Fort Lauderdale and nationally through 2032 [http://bls.org]:

  1. Home health and personal care aides
  2. Registered nurses
  3. Software developers, applications
  4. Solar panel installers
  5. Wind turbine service technicians
  6. Construction managers
  7. Physician assistants
  8. Medical assistants
  9. Marketing specialists
  10. Database administrators

10 Companies Hiring Now

  1. Baptist Health South Florida
  2. Cleveland Clinic
  3. AutoNation
  4. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
  5. Walmart
  6. The Cheesecake Factory
  7. Lowe’s Companies, Inc.
  8. Publix Super Markets
  9. Spirit Airlines
  10. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

Cited Resources