A new survey of Volusia-Flagler area employers found that 27 percent expect to increase staff levels this summer, while 2 percent anticipated making layoffs.
The anticipated 25 percent net gain in employment was tied for 19th best of the 100 largest metro areas nationally and second best in Florida, according to Manpower Group's national Employment Outlook Survey report for third quarter 2018.
Of the Florida metro areas included in the report, Jacksonville ranked highest, tied with four other metro areas in other states for 14th best with a 26 percent net gain.
"Employers in the Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach (metro area) anticipate a stronger hiring pace," compared to the previous quarter when 26 percent of local employers expected to add jobs and 5 percent expected staff cuts, said Lisa Hancock, executive vice president for Manpower's Orlando region, which includes Volusia and Flagler counties. Hancock lives in DeBary.
Locally, the global staffing firm has an office in Holly Hill.
"In terms of our clients, employers in construction and manufacturing appear to be adding the most jobs — skilled trades, including CNC machinists, compounders and anything that's construction-related," Hancock said.
Of employers surveyed statewide, 23 percent said they intended to increase staff levels, while 4 percent anticipated making cuts, for an overall net employment gain of 19 percent.
The Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach metro area, which covers both Volusia and Flagler counties, was tied with Boston, Massachusetts, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Columbia, South Carolina, Denver, Colorado, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, for the 14th highest predicted net employment gain in the upcoming July-August-September period.
"I don't know a single industry that's struggling to fill all their positions," said Robin King, president and CEO of CareerSource Flagler Volusia, the regional workforce development agency for Volusia and Flagler counties.
The jobless rate improved to 3.5 percent in Volusia and 3.7 percent in Flagler in April, both new post-Great Recession lows, according to the most recent preliminary employment data released by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. The state is set to report preliminary employment numbers for May on Friday.
King said her agency's three career centers in Volusia and Flagler counties have seen both an increase in job openings as well as a decrease in the number of job seekers.
Of those looking for work, she said she has seen an increasing number who are "under-employed" — currently already working, but in a position that does not pay what they would like to earn and/or does not fully utilize their talents.
But what's keeping many under-employed workers from getting better-paying jobs, King said, is a lack of the necessary skills.
King said her organization is encouraging employers to consider offering training programs for existing employees that could help them move up to higher wage jobs.
"If you've got people in entry-level positions who already fit your company's culture, to invest in them to bring their skills up could be the key to addressing (employers') needs for skilled workers. It also helps with retention of employees."
Nationally, Indianapolis, Indiana, had the highest anticipated net employment gain of 35 percent in Manpower's latest employment outlook report, followed by Raleigh, North Carolina, No. 2 at 34 percent, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, No. 3 at 33 percent, and Grand Rapids, Michigan, No. 4 at 31 percent.
HOW FLORIDA METRO AREAS RANK
Here's how the metro areas included in Manpower's third quarter employment outlook survey were ranked based on expected net employment gain out of the nation's 100 largest metro areas:
1. Jacksonville (National ranking: tied with Buffalo, Omaha, Portland and Syracuse for 14th highest at a forecasted net employment gain of 26%)
2. Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach (tied with Boston, Chattanooga, Columbia, Denver and Harrisburg for 19th at 25%)
3. North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota (tied with Bridgeport, Charlotte, Jackson, Phoenix, Pittsburgh and Provo for 35th at 22%)
4(tie). Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach and Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville (tied with Albany, Atlanta, El Paso, Providence, San Jose, Stockton, Wichita and Winston-Salem for 58th at 19%)
6. Orlando-Kissimmee (tied with Dayton, San Antonio, Toledo and Tucson for 68th at 18%)
7. Lakeland-Winter Haven (tied with Fresno and Las Vegas for 84th at 15%)
8. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater (tied with Cleveland, Hartford, Knoxville, New York and Philadelphia for 87th at 14%)
9. Cape Coral-Fort Myers (tied with New Haven for 97th at 12%)
SOURCE: Manpower Group