The Tampa MSA’s employment market continued to demonstrate strength in June 2026, supported by growth across several of the region’s largest industries.
According to the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council’s June 2026 Industry Report, the Tampa metropolitan statistical area added 3,600 nonfarm payroll jobs between June 2025 and June 2026. Education and health services led the region’s employment gains, followed by professional and business services and leisure and hospitality.
The numbers point to a diverse regional economy with employment spread across several major sectors—an important indicator for businesses, investors, property owners, and commercial real estate professionals evaluating the Tampa MSA.
Education and Health Services Leads Job Growth
Education and health services recorded Tampa’s largest year-over-year employment increase, adding 6,000 jobs. Employment in the sector rose from 250,700 in June 2025 to 256,700 in June 2026.
Professional and business services added 800 jobs, increasing from 284,900 to 285,700. Leisure and hospitality also gained 800 jobs, rising from 169,300 to 170,100.
Additional sectors posting year-over-year gains included:
- Construction: 98,700 to 99,400 jobs
- Manufacturing: 74,400 to 74,700 jobs
Several industries experienced employment declines during the same period:
- Trade, transportation and utilities: 279,200 to 278,000 jobs
- Government: 154,900 to 153,500 jobs
- Financial activities: 142,400 to 141,600 jobs
- Other services: 55,900 to 55,500 jobs
- Information: 30,400 to 29,200 jobs
Although some industries contracted, the report notes that Tampa’s overall employment remained strong, reflecting the region’s resilience as employment patterns shifted among sectors.
Three Industries Account for More Than Half of Regional Employment
Professional and business services, trade, transportation and utilities, and education and health services represent the Tampa MSA’s three largest employment sectors.
Based on the report’s May 2026 industry-share data:
- Professional and business services accounted for 18% of employment.
- Trade, transportation and utilities represented 18%.
- Education and health services accounted for 17%.
Together, these three sectors represented 53% of Tampa MSA employment.
Other significant portions of the region’s employment base included leisure and hospitality at 11%, government at 10%, and financial activities at 9%. Construction represented 6%, manufacturing accounted for 5%, other services represented 4%, and information accounted for 2%.
This distribution illustrates that Tampa Bay’s employment base is not dependent on a single industry. Instead, the region is supported by a combination of professional services, healthcare, trade, transportation, hospitality, government, finance, construction, manufacturing, and other business activity.
Florida Metro Areas Continue to Add Jobs
Tampa was one of 19 Florida metropolitan areas reporting employment growth between June 2025 and June 2026.
The largest numerical employment gains among the Florida metro areas highlighted in the report were:
- Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford: 20,600 jobs, or 1.4%
- North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota: 4,000 jobs, or 1.1%
- Lakeland-Winter Haven: 3,800 jobs, or 1.4%
- Tampa: 3,600 jobs
The report also compared employment growth in select metropolitan areas across the country. Raleigh recorded the largest year-over-year percentage increase among the markets shown at 2.6%, followed by Austin at 1.9%. Charlotte and Nashville each grew by 1.6%, while Orlando and Phoenix each posted growth of 1.4%.
The national average year-over-year increase was 0.3%.
Tampa Bay Outpaces National Five-Year Growth
Tampa Bay’s longer-term employment performance provides additional perspective on the region’s economic momentum.
Between 2021 and 2025, nonfarm employment increased:
- 8.3% nationally
- 11.9% across Florida
- 10.4% in the Tampa MSA
- 11.1% in Hillsborough County
Tampa MSA employment grew from 1,405,600 jobs in 2021 to 1,551,500 in 2025. Hillsborough County employment increased from 713,110 to 791,916 over the same period.
Both Tampa MSA and Hillsborough County employment growth exceeded the national rate, while Florida’s statewide growth was even stronger.
What Employment Growth Means for Tampa Bay Commercial Real Estate
Employment trends help illustrate the underlying activity supporting demand for commercial space.
The continued expansion of education and health services may create opportunities across medical office, professional office and related service properties. Growth in professional and business services can influence office requirements, while continued strength in leisure and hospitality supports the businesses and commercial properties serving both residents and visitors.
Construction and manufacturing also reported modest employment gains, adding to the diversity of Tampa Bay’s employment base.
At the same time, declines within certain industries reinforce the importance of evaluating each property and submarket individually. Economic growth does not affect every sector—or every commercial real estate asset—in the same way.
A Resilient Regional Economy
Tampa Bay entered the middle of 2026 with positive year-over-year job growth, a diversified employment base and five-year growth that exceeded the national rate.
With more than half of regional employment concentrated across professional and business services, trade, transportation and utilities, and education and health services, Tampa Bay continues to be supported by several of the industries most deeply embedded in the region’s economy.
For commercial property owners, investors, tenants and developers, these employment trends offer valuable context when evaluating opportunities throughout Tampa Bay.
Source: Tampa Bay Economic Development Council June 2026 Industry Report, using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Florida Commerce. Figures are not seasonally adjusted and are subject to change.
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