A look at the labor market

Health-related fields are two of the top four industries projected to the gain the most new jobs in the area over the next six years, according to the state agency that tracks employment numbers.

In the February Heartland Workforce Labor Market Review, which includes Highlands, Hardee and DeSoto counties, nursing and residential care facilities are forecasted to add 53 jobs per year during that time and ambulatory health care services 43.

Administrative and support services is predicted to add the most jobs - 88 - annually through 2016, according to the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation. Local government will add 79.

A note included with the statistics says "projections to the year 2016 assume a Florida economic recovery, including construction."

Construction has been an important industry in the state for most of the last four or five decades, according to Bill Pittenger, senior vice president and chief real estate economist for Seacoast National Bank.

Pittenger said the high level of construction jobs or even opportunities no longer exist in Florida and are not likely to exist at previous levels well into the foreseeable future.

Pittenger noted there will "very likely" be fewer construction and trade jobs in the foreseeable future, which he defines as three to four years. Unemployment in this sector will probably remain high.

The number of jobs in Florida is 7,144,300, down 303,200 in January 2010 compared to a year ago, according to the state agency.

The industry losing the most jobs is construction. It has lost 90,700 jobs.

New home construction remains slow in Highlands. Four permits have been pulled this month as of Thursday, according to the building department. A total of 10 were pulled in January and February.

The Highlands County Builders Association held its 2010 Spring Parade of Homes in February and its executive director said the traffic was better than expected.

"The Parade of Homes participants were encouraged with the traffic," Al Moretz said.

Whether that translates into sales remains to be seen, Moretz added.

Growth is a given in Highlands. Moretz said it is "very encouraging" for the industry for large projects such as Lake Placid Village and Blue Head Ranch. However, construction is still several years away.

Other industries losing jobs over the year include: trade, transportation, and utilities professional and business services; manufacturing; leisure and hospitality ; financial activities information; other services and total government.

The employment breakdown by industry as of 2009 for the region is as follows: trade, transportation and utilities 17 percent; government 16.5 percent; agriculture 16.1 percent; education and health services 13.8 percent; leisure and hospitality 7.1 percent, professional and business services 6.5 percent, construction 3.9 percent.

The statistics include wages by industry - for 2008 - in the region. The average salary for the 11 listed was $28,201.

Financial Activities has the highest salary of $41,415 annually. Information is second with $41,302.

Leisure and Hospitality has the lowest salary of $16,538 a year.

Average annual wages for the state were listed for 2008. Highlands ranked 43rd out of Florida's 67 counties with $25,717. Hardee is 63rd with $20,388. DeSoto is 61st with $21,100.

Collier County had the highest with $63,276, while Hamilton County was the lowest with $17,142, the state agency reported.

FAST FACT:

The number of jobs in Florida is 7,144,300, down 303,200 in January 2010.