What are the most in-demand summer jobs in Florida?

Those looking for a temporary job this summer in Florida may be in luck. With tourism, particularly in the warmer months, being one of the Sunshine State’s largest economic sectors, jobs within the industry are typically highly demanded in the summer. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there are over 650,000 jobs available in Florida; however, not all of these are temporary.

For those solely interested in a summer job, those in the hospitality, retail, or educational sector, may be your best bet.

Leisure and Hospitality

There are currently 1,318,300 million workers employed in the leisure and hospitality sector —the highest figure ever recorded.

Typically, there is a small but notable increase in the number of workers in the leisure and hospitality sector when comparing the averages from January through May to those from June to September. As reported by the BLS, between 2015 and 2019, the difference –between the spring and summer months—never surpassed two percent. However, in 2021 and 2022, the number of workers grew by 9.2 and 3.3 percent, respectively. The large increase in 2021 was also a result of a general trend seen across the economy as workers rejoined the labor force.

This year the sector could take a massive hit after a series of controversial immigration laws have soured many potential visitors’ impression of the state. Additionally, earlier this year, the NCAAP issued a travel warning for people of color, women, immigrants, and the LGBTQ+ community, saying that those who visit should “be aware that your life, your full being, is not valued by Florida’s so-called leaders.”

Retail

Tourists often come up with the idea of spending money, which also tends to generate higher levels of employment in the retail sector during peak vacation season. Since the pandemic, the retail sector has seen increases between one and two percent during the summer months, meaning that this could also be a sign that more temporary jobs may be available. While some jobs may be advertised online, it is never a bad idea to bring your resumé in person to stores that you would be interested in working at.

Educational opportunities

For college students on summer vacation, tutoring is also a high-demand temporary job in the summer months that can allow one to earn a bit of extra cash without having to work nights. These jobs are often posted on job boards, but if there are local tutoring centers in your city or town, stopping by to ask if they are hiring could expedite the process. Additionally, in cities where there is a university, there may be temporary jobs to fill as students who typically attend those institutions return home, leaving them vacant.