The greatest area for potential employment lies in the services industry, which represents approximately 40 percent of all employment. Within the services area, the tourism sector is particularly promising. Two of the three biggest employers comprise theme parks and hotels: the Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando. Health care and retail (stores) also are major employers within the services sector. In addition, the region’s overall corporate diversity bodes will for job hunters. High profile neighbors include Siemens Westinghouse, American Automobile Association, Dixon Ticonderoga, Hilton and Tupperware International. Each calls metro Orlando home of its national headquarters. Furthermore, Central Florida ReSEARCH Park, known as Orlando’s biggest employment center, is home to Adaptec; Boeing; Cognoscenti Health Institute; Hewitt Associates; the Air Force Agency for Modeling and Simulation; the Army Simulation, Training and Instrumentation Command and the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division.

Moreover, with approximately 3,800 high tech companies that employ nearly 80,000 people, the region is a world-class high tech center. During the past 10 years, employment in high tech industries has more than doubled, and approximately 79 percent of the total manufacturing growth since 1980 has occurred in high tech areas are simulation and training, lasers, software development, and microelectronics manufacturing. Among notable high tech employers are Oracle Crop, Lockheed Martin and Cirent Semiconductor. All totaled, high tech companies generate nearly $9 billion in annual sales.

On the manufacturing front, the three story Coca-Cola sign that dominates New York’s Times Square was manufactured in metro Orlando, as are the bottles that hold Heinz Ketchup, Gatorade and Wilson tennis balls. Manufacturers thrive throughout the region by virtue of affordable land prices, a young and well-trained employee base, pro-business governments, right to work laws, and roadway/air transportation access.

Business start-ups are another potential source of employment. Each week, an average of 269 new businesses are established here. Similarly, if you’re looking to be a part of film and television production, metro Orlando holds much promise.