Employers Hiring Full-time with Benefits Survey - 2006

WORKFORCE CENTRAL FLORIDA releases the results of a job vacancy and hiring needs survey for Central Florida. In June, 2,294 local employers were surveyed to determine a snapshot of current and future workforce needs. Central Florida employers report the highest number of vacancies in the state (20,074 in June 2005). Central Florida employers are filling vacancies faster than the state average(65.8% fill in 30 or less vs. state average of 62% of employers filling in same time period) and are more likely to offer full benefit packages (49% vs. 45% state average).

SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS

• The survey identified 20,074 vacancies across 312 occupations in Central Florida(Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake & Sumter Counties) during June 2005; Central Florida employers reported the most vacancies in the state (Miami-Dade reporting 19,100; Palm Beach reporting 14,800; Broward reporting 14,000; and Hillsborough reporting 13,500).
• The top 5 job vacancies ranked by average hourly wage were Medical & Health Service Managers (100 vacancies, $38.96 per hour), Electrical Engineers (198 vacancies, $35.15 per hour), Civil Engineers (98 vacancies, $33.62 per hour), Loan Officers (167 vacancies, $28.79 per hour) and Registered Nurses (556 vacancies, $22.77 per hour).
• Almost 50% of the reported vacancies were found in three major occupation groups: sales & related occupations (4,230 vacancies, 21%), office & administrative support occupations (2,179 vacancies, 13.5%), and food preparation & serving occupations (2,074 vacancies, 13.5%).
• Construction occupations had 1,749 vacancies (8.7%), followed by healthcare (practitioners, support, and technical) occupations which had 1,492 vacancies (7.4%).
• Healthcare occupations in the top 50 list of estimated vacancies included: medical and health services managers with 100 vacancies ($38.96 per hour), registered nurses with 556 vacancies ($22.77 per hour), and radiological technologists and technicians with 129 vacancies ($19.04/hr).
• Almost two-thirds (65.8%) of reported vacancies in Central Florida were filled in less than 30 days. Across the State, 62.1% of employers report filling vacancies in less than 30 days.
• The majority of reported vacancies (92.6%) were for full-time work.
• Close to one-third (29.6%) of reported vacancies required a certificate or license; 17.5% required some type of technical or college degree.
• Almost half (49.5%) of reported vacancies had some type of experience requirement; the most frequent work experience requirement was for one to two years (25.5%), followed by less than one year (13.4%).
• Almost half (49.1%) of reported vacancies offered a full benefits package of health insurance, paid sick leave, paid vacation time, and pension/retirement savings plan. Central Florida ranks higher than the state average of 45.4% of employers offering full benefit packages.
• Over 70% of reported vacancies offered at least one of the four benefits.

FUTURE HIRING PLANS

• The 2,294 employers surveyed plan to hire 1,659 in the next six months.
• Occupations with the highest demand, as reported by these employers, included drivers (149), material movers (122), laborers (121), cashiers (99), fast food crew members (95), servers (91), sales associates (73) and fruit processors (70).
• WCF also released the “State of the Workforce 2004” in the Fall of 2004, where 48% of employers reported plans to expand their workforce with in the next year and 56% reported plans to expand their workforce within the next three years.

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