Florida has always been a magnet for dreamers and doers. It was, after all, to this place that explorers from the old world came to plant their first permanent settlement in the new. And it was from this place a little more than four centuries later that another band of explorers left to plant their footprints on the moon.
Today, dozens of dreamers and doers stake their futures on Florida each year by relocating or expanding their businesses here.
Why here, why now? Read More »
Florida is an eclectic mix of eight economic development regions, at least one of which is right for you and your business. From Naples up to Jacksonville and from Pensacola down to Miami and the Florida Keys, this state boasts a blend of cutting-edge innovation and kickback style that is second to none. In any region of Florida, you are never more than 50 miles from a postsecondary educational institution or 90 miles from a deep water port. It’s a good bet you’ll find a golf course, theme park, shopping mall and/or sandy beach within close proximity too.
The Regions
FLORIDA AT A GLANCE
Population 20.98 million
3rd largest in the U.S.
Civilian Labor Force 10.1 million
3rd largest in the U.S.
Gross Domestic Product $1.0 trillion
4th largest in the U.S.
Total Personal Income $1.0 trillion
4th highest in the U.S.
Per Capita Personal Income $47,684
2nd in the Southeast
Households 8,528,264
Total Earnings $539.4 billion
Total Retail Sales $339.9 billion
FLORIDA BY THE NUMBERS
Population 20.98 million
3rd largest in the U.S.
Civilian Labor Force 10.1 million
3rd largest in the U.S.
Gross Domestic Product $1.0 trillion
4th largest in the U.S.
Total Personal Income $1.0 trillion
4th highest in the U.S.
Per Capita Personal Income $47,684
2nd in the Southeast
Households 8,528,264
Total Earnings $539.4 billion
Total Retail Sales $339.9 billion
Airports
• Destin-Fort Walton Beach
• Northwest Florida Beaches International
• Pensacola International
• Tallahassee International
Seaports
• Port Panama City
• Port of Pensacola
• Port of Port St. Joe
Key Demographics
| Population | 1,468,387 |
| Labor Force | 680,982 |
| Households | 598,263 |
| Total Earnings | $35.17B |
| Med. Per Cap. Income | $35,665 |
| Total Retail Sales | $20.92B |
Sources: US Census Bureau, 2017; Labor Market Statistics Center, Florida DEO 2017; Woods & Poole Economics, 2018
North Central
read the full report
Key Demographics
| Population | 915,342 |
| Labor Force | 386,427 |
| Households | 389,204 |
| Total Earnings | $17.41B |
| Med. Per Cap. Income | $31,7906 |
| Total Retail Sales | $11.74B |
Airports
• Gainesville Regional
Sources: US Census Bureau, 2017; Labor Market Statistics Center, Florida DEO 2017; Woods & Poole Economics, 2018
Key Demographics
| Population | 1,688,954 |
| Labor Force | 829,624 |
| Households | 691,590 |
| Total Earnings | $46.0B |
| Med. Per Cap. Income | $43,705 |
| Total Retail Sales | $24.76B |
Airports
• Jacksonville International
• Northeast Florida Regional
Seaports
• JAXPORT
• Port of Fernandina
Spaceports
• Cecil Spaceport
Sources: US Census Bureau, 2017; Labor Market Statistics Center, Florida DEO 2017; Woods & Poole Economics, 2018
Key Demographics
| Population | 4,728,199 |
| Labor Force | 2,213,349 |
| Households | 2,003,003 |
| Total Earnings | $115.9B |
| Med. Per Cap. Income | $43,205 |
| Total Retail Sales | $70.83B |
Airports
• St. Peteg-Clearwater International
• Sarasota Bradenton International
• Tampa International
Seaports
• Port Manatee
• Port of St. Petersburg
• Port Tampa Bay
Sources: US Census Bureau, 2017; Labor Market Statistics Center, Florida DEO 2017; Woods & Poole Economics, 2018
East Central
read the full report
Key Demographics
| Population | 3,762,850 |
| Labor Force | 1,853,483 |
| Households | 1,477,482 |
| Total Earnings | $95.07B |
| Med. Per Cap. Income | $46,659 |
| Total Retail Sales | $64.51B |
Airports
• Daytona Beach International
• Orlando Melbourne International
• Orlando International
• Orlando Sanford International
Seaports
• Port Canaveral
Spaceports
• Cape Canaveral Spaceport
Sources: US Census Bureau, 2017; Labor Market Statistics Center, Florida DEO 2017; Woods & Poole Economics, 2018
Key Demographics
| Population | 1,294,137 |
| Labor Force | 577,790 |
| Households | 551,241 |
| Total Earnings | $28.03B |
| Med. Per Cap. Income | $48,592 |
| Total Retail Sales | $21.71B |
Airports
• Punta Gorda
• Southwest Florida International
Sources: US Census Bureau, 2017; Labor Market Statistics Center, Florida DEO 2017; Woods & Poole Economics, 2018
South Central
read the full report
Key Demographics
| Population | 262,862 |
| Labor Force | 98,518 |
| Households | 105,534 |
| Total Earnings | $3.67B |
| Med. Per Cap. Income | $28,004 |
| Total Retail Sales | $2.69B |
Sources: US Census Bureau, 2017; Labor Market Statistics Center, Florida DEO 2017; Woods & Poole Economics, 2018
Key Demographics
| Population | 6,863,649 |
| Labor Force | 3,454,095 |
| Households | 2,711,947 |
| Total Earnings | $198.2B |
| Med. Per Cap. Income | $73,564 |
| Total Retail Sales | $122.68B |
Airports
• Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International
• Key West International
• Miami International
• Palm Beach International
Seaports
• Port Everglades
• Port of Fort Pierce
• Port of Key West
• PortMiami
• Port of Palm Beach
Sources: US Census Bureau, 2017; Labor Market Statistics Center, Florida DEO 2017; Woods & Poole Economics, 2018
How to use the map: Click a region for key statistics and a link to the full report.Click the 
in the upper right corner to return to the main map.
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