The Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro area has vaulted to second place among the nation’s fastest-growing job markets for young workers, according to a new study by ADP Research.
The study analyzed payroll data from more than 400,000 workers aged 20 to 29, covering January 2025 through January 2026. ADP compared 53 U.S. metro areas with populations of at least one million residents, evaluating each on wages, hiring rates, and affordability.
The Tampa-St. Pete-Clearwater region’s jump to second place is among the most dramatic in the rankings — the area placed 26th just one year ago. The local hiring rate climbed from 2.6% to 3.4%, one of the fastest paces recorded among the metros studied.
Shivendu Shivendu, an associate professor in the School of Information Systems at USF’s Muma College of Business, attributed the growth to an influx of new businesses into the region. “Tampa Bay’s growth is growth of new businesses moving into the area, and that is making hiring rates increase,” Shivendu said. He noted that Tampa Bay consistently performs well in healthcare, technology, and financial services — the three sectors he says are driving the area’s strong hiring pace.
The average salary for workers ages 20 to 29 in the Tampa-St. Pete area is approximately $49,817, according to the data.
Other Florida metros fared less well. Orlando, which ranked in the top 10 last year, fell out of that tier, while Jacksonville and Miami also dropped in the rankings.
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