It likely come as no surprise that when it comes to the jobs of the future, careers centered around math and computers will be in high demand.
What may be a bit more surprising, however, is that careers in arts, design, entertainment, sports and media are also on the rise.
A new report into workforce trends within the region from the University of West Florida’s Haas Center offers a glimpse into what career field could dominate Northwest Florida’s job market over the next decade. The Haas Center ranked the top occupational sectors for each county in the region by their projected 10-year growth and median earnings.
The Haas Center projects 16% growth in computer and mathematical occupations across Northwest Florida by 2034, as well as median annual salaries in the range of $88,798. Comparatively, they project the category will see growth rates of 18% nationally and 19% in the state of Florida.
The report also projects the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports & Media category will grow by 12%, though the median salary is a more modest $48,404. The Management category will grow by 10% and garner a median salary of $86,903, while Business & Financial Operations category will grow by 9% and bring a median salary of $70,179.
The anticipated occupational growth in Northwest Florida will be fueled by the region’s population growth, according to Nicole Gislason, executive director of The Haas Center. However, the projections are less viable if the sectors aren’t continually supported over the coming years.
“Certainly, investments in education are going to make our region more competitive when it comes to attracting business growth. To the extent we’re successfully training new engineers, or new cybersecurity professionals or new nurses, then certainly we’re much more competitive when it comes to bringing new jobs,” Gislason continued. “If we are unable to compete for new positions, then that also puts us at risk for losing the (professionals) we have. So we can’t become complacent and accept the existing platform for job growth that’s already in place.”
The report defines Northwest Florida as Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington, Bay, Calhoun, Jackson, Gulf, Liberty, Franklin and Wakulla counties.
Northwest Florida’s existing population of over 1.2 million people is projected to increase by 13%, or approximately 159,000 people, between 2024 and 2034. The region has grown by 8% since 2019, adding approximately 87,800 people.
In Escambia County, the Computer and Mathematical category showed the highest projected growth at 14%, while Santa Rosa County’s top category was Transportation and Moving Material, at 17%.
The Haas Center used a variety of sources to form the report, including Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, as well as the private application Lightcast, which scraped job postings to identify critical needs across any given occupational category.
A question mark in the data is how much the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence will change the job landscape. The report does, however, look at what career fields are most and least likely to be affected by automation, and it showed that nine of Northwest Florida’s top 10 occupations ranked among the least likely to be automated, the exception being installation, maintenance and repair.
“We don’t yet know to what extent AI will influence or change the way in which (high-growth occupations) will evolve over time. It’s just looking at the present landscape of automation,” said Gislason.
The Haas Centers’ report was presented to nearly 100 guests, comprised of clients, UWF leadership and some city officials like Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves, during a celebration of the organization’s 30-year anniversary.
The new data on workforce trends can be utilized by government leaders across Northwest Florida to map out their future plans, and the organization is working with municipalities like the city of Pensacola to improve their respective offerings and career pipelines.
“Thanks to the Haas Centers’ expertise, we were able to take (people’s) voices and turn them into action,” Reeves said during the 30-year-anniversary event. “It’s partnerships like this that demonstrate how universities and local governments can work hand in hand to create real, lasting change in our communities.”
What are the fastest-growing careers in Northwest Florida?
The Haas Centers’ report on workforce trends states the following occupational categories will have the strongest projected job growth in Northwest Florida from 2024 to 2034:
- Computer & Mathematical: 16% growth.
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports & Media: 12% growth.
- Management: 10% growth.
- Business & Financial Operations: 9% growth.
- Healthcare Practitioners & Technical/Life, Physical & Social Science: 6% growth.
The Haas Center’s report also details which occupational categories have the highest projected job growth, and the rate of growth, in each of Northwest Florida’s 13 counties.
- Escambia County: Computer & Mathematical, 14%.
- Santa Rosa County: Transportation & Material Moving, 17%.
- Okaloosa County: Computer & Mathematical, 17%.
- Walton County: Computer & Mathematical, 34%.
- Holmes County: Educational Instruction & Library, 41%.
- Washington County: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports & Media, 26%.
- Bay County: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports & Media, 12%.
- Jackson County: Educational Instruction & Library, 28%.
- Calhoun County: Healthcare Practitioners & Technical, 31%.
- Gulf County: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports & Media, 28%.
- Liberty County: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports & Media, 22%.
- Franklin County: Computer & Mathematical, 36%.
- Wakulla County: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports & Media, 30%.