Charlotte
County is a secret no more! INC. Magazine recently ranked the
Punta Gorda MSA 22nd in its list of “Boomtowns 2006!
The Economic
Development Office is often the first stop for businesses interested
in expanding or relocating to our area and for existing businesses
interested in conducting some form of strategic planning, forecasting
or reporting. Each month we receive hundreds of requests for general
economic and demographic information about Charlotte County and
Southwest Florida.
The US Bureau
of the Census estimates the population of the Punta Gorda MSA,
which includes all of Charlotte County, to be 157,536, which is
an increase from the 2000 census of ten percent. The Bureau of
Economic and Business Research at the University of Florida projects
that by 2010 the total population in Charlotte County will be
around 177,800.
Just under
fifty percent of our population is 20-64 years of age. And the
under ten years of age has been growing at 2.14% percent. This
means a workforce is developing.
The latest
data release from the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation
shows that Charlotte County’s average wage increased by
14.9% percent between 2003 and 2004. In 2003 the average wage
was 26,956 compared to $28,729 in 2004. The state average was
$34,427 in 2004.
Average wage
rates by industry sector vary as follows: construction - $34,282;
manufacturing - $35,228; financial activities - $48,678; wholesale
trade - $43,650; retail trade - $23,764; professional and business
services - $44,486; information - $35,939; education and health
services - $37,447; leisure and hospitality - $20,350.
Charlotte
County’s labor force is 64,412, with 62,184 employed and
an unemployment rate of 3.52% for August 2006, which is slightly
better than the state’s rate of 3.6%, and more than one
percent better than the nation’s rate of 4.6%. In Charlotte
County, from August 2005 to the present, this represents an increase
in employment of 3.45%.
The total
number of building permits issued in Charlotte County for the
month of September 2006 came in at 3,725, 13.1% higher than the
previous month’s, and 9% higher than last year’s number
(during the post-storms reconstruction period). Single family
permits as of September 2006 total 2,544, almost 33% high than
last year’s. Commercial permits at 319 are more than ten
percent higher than last year’s numbers.
The area continues
on its growth trends, as evidenced by the numbers. For more Charlotte
County demographic information, visit the web site: www.PureEconomics.org,
go to Demographics and then click on Demographic Profile. Also
on the Home Page, is the October 2006 Economic Indicator Report
with current information for your perusal.
Betty Williams is economic development manager
for the Charlotte County Economic Development Office (www.PureEconomics.org).
You can call her at (941) 627-3023 or e-mail her at PureEconomics@charlottecountyfl.com.
