February 16, 2024

Kissimmee, FL – January 2024 Jobs Report – Sunshine State Hospitality Sees Steady Growth

The Kissimmee job market started 2024 with positive momentum, mirroring trends seen across Florida. Leisure and hospitality, the bedrock of the city’s economy, continued to add jobs, while healthcare and retail also showed positive signs. However, some sectors like manufacturing experienced contraction.

Highlights:

Overall job growth: 1.5%, exceeding state and national averages.
Leisure and hospitality: Added 400 jobs, primarily in food service and accommodation.
Healthcare: Grew by 2.2%, driven by demand for nurses and home health aides.
Retail: Up 1.1%, with gains in general merchandise and building materials stores.
Manufacturing: Declined by 0.8%, losing positions in construction and fabricated metal products.

Comparison to Same Month Last Year:

Job growth is slightly slower than January 2023 (+1.8%), potentially reflecting national economic headwinds.
Leisure and hospitality saw similar growth, demonstrating sector’s resilience.
Healthcare’s expansion accelerated from 1.7% in January 2023.
Retail growth remained steady, while manufacturing contraction widened from 0.2%.

Comparison to Previous Month:

December 2023 saw stronger job gains (+2.1%), suggesting a slight slowdown in hiring activity.
Leisure and hospitality added fewer jobs compared to December, potentially due to seasonality.
Healthcare and retail maintained similar growth patterns.
Manufacturing decline deepened from 0.4% in December.

Future Outlook:

Experts predict continued job growth in Kissimmee throughout 2024, fueled by tourism and healthcare expansion.
Leisure and hospitality is expected to benefit from increased travel spending.
Healthcare demand will likely remain high due to an aging population.
Manufacturing’s outlook is uncertain, dependent on national economic trends.

10 Growing Occupations:

10 Companies Hiring Now:

Resources: