Institute for Economic Competitiveness

Oviedo’s barbecue boost

iec — Thu, 23 May 2013 23:00:00 +0500

By: Tim Freed Original Link: Seminole Voice, FL 05.23.13 May 23, 2013 Oviedo residents can expect a number of things from this weekend’s Central Florida BBQ Blowout: mounds of pulled pork smothered in homemade barbecue sauce, crispy burnt ends as far as the eye can see, and a potential economic boost for their city. The Central Florida BBQ Blowout’s expected 15,000 attendees could...

Southwest Florida population growth triples, census finds

iec — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:00:00 +0500

By: Dale White Original Link: Herald-Tribune, FL 05.22.13 May 22, 2013 Last year, Southwest Florida more than tripled its rate of population growth, an inflection point in the region's emergence from the Great Recession. The biggest proportionate recovery was in Charlotte County, which moved from an actual decline in residents in 2010-11 to a 1.9 percent gain from 2011 to 2012, according to...

Volusia, Flagler unemployment rates keep improving

iec — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:00:00 +0500

By: Chris Graham Original Link: Daytona Beach News-Journal, FL 05.17.13 May 17, 2013 Unemployment rates for Volusia and Flagler counties fell in April to the lowest levels recorded since 2008, according to statistics released by the state Friday. But one economist cautioned more improvement can be made. "There's still a long ways to go," said Sean Snaith, with the University of Central...

Rare drop in healthcare hiring brings Miami-Dade its slowest job growth in three years

iec — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:00:00 +0500

By: Douglas Hanks Original Link: Miami Herald, FL 05.17.13 May 17, 2013 Healthcare hiring didn’t come through for South Florida last month. The latest jobs number show one of the largest industries in the region has shifted into a new, slower gear, with Broward and Miami-Dade showing losses in a sector that was expanding even during the darkest days of the 2007-09 recession. It was a...

Whatever Happened To The Economy?

iec — Tue, 14 May 2013 12:00:00 +0500

By: Alan Greenblatt Original Link: NPR, US 05.14.13 May 14, 2013 Remember the economy? The election year was dominated by talk about jobs and the economy, but neither the administration nor Congress seems to have any grand ideas for jump-starting a still sluggish recovery — and they're not even talking about it much. President Obama sought to turn attention back to economic issues with...

Dr. Snaith named to Orlando Power Brokers list by the Orlando Sentinel

iec — Tue, 14 May 2013 00:42:00 +0500

By Orlando Sentinel Orlando Sentinel, FL. 05.13.13 Orlando power brokers Politicians aren't the only people who wield clout in Orlando. In no particular order, here is an admittedly limited sampling of the unelected power brokers of the region. Have a suggestion to make this list grow? Sean Snaith, Orlando-A professor at University of Central Florida, Snaith is the most...

Medical practices find it a healthy time to expand

iec — Fri, 10 May 2013 12:00:00 +0500

By: Robert Hughes Original Link: Florida Today, FL 05.10.13 May 10, 2013 Expansions mean jobs Three medical service businesses are expanding in Brevard County: • The new and expanded Clevens Center for Facial Cosmetic Surgery and Wellness Center moved into its new location May 1 at 707 W. Eau Gallie Blvd., Melbourne. Contact 321-727-3223 or drclevens.com. • Suntree Internal Medicine...

Signs show steps toward upbeat job market

iec — Thu, 09 May 2013 12:00:00 +0500

By: Steven Ryzewski Original Link: Seminole Chronicle, FL 05.09.13 May 9, 2013 When Cathy and Bo Dow both, within the past year, lost their jobs unexpectedly, the Oviedo couple were like most other couples with two 9-year-old boys in their situation. They had no choice but to immediately get back out in the job market. Fortunately for the Dows, the job market was good to them - both had a new...

Low-wage jobs bulk of gains, report says

iec — Wed, 08 May 2013 12:00:00 +0500

By: Marcia Heroux Pounds Original Link: Sun Sentinel, FL 05.08.13 May 8, 2013 The Sunshine State is growing faster than the nation but is gaining mostly lower-wage jobs such as restaurant servers, according to an economic report released Wednesday by Wells Fargo. While hiring has picked up across most industries, it is being led by jobs in Florida's hospitality sector, according to Wells...

On jobs, Florida again sets the pace

iec — Sat, 04 May 2013 12:00:00 +0500

By: Michael Pollick Original Link: Herald-Tribune, FL 05.04.13 May 4, 2013 Considered a laggard compared with the rest of the country by economists during the Great Recession, Florida now regularly outpaces the U.S. in rebounding employment, housing starts and other key measures. That trend continued Friday, when the Labor Department reported that the nation's jobless rate fell in April to...