Sarasota economy finishes 2014 strong

The local economy continued its march toward recovery last month with the strongest employment figures recorded in more than seven years.

Sarasota County’s unemployment rate fell to 4.9% in December from 5.3% the previous month, while the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota metropolitan study area added 2,300 jobs and settled at a 5% jobless rate, according to data released today by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. The county’s rate tumbled to the lowest it has been since August 2007 — four months before the recession.

Employment in the transportation, retail and professional and business services sectors drove job growth in the local metro area, with the latter category adding 800 jobs over November and 3,500 over December 2013. That sector is characterized by higher-paying jobs, such as lawyers or accountants.

The largest private employers in the county last month were PGT Industries, Publix Super Markets, Sun Hydraulics, Sunset Automotive Group and Tervis, according to the latest economic report from the county’s office of financial management.

The local construction industry maintained its employment level in December, but remained strong as a whole toward the end of 2014. The county issued more than 6,900 building permits last quarter, which was a 16% jump over the same timeframe in 2013, according to a management report County Administrator Tom Harmer issued today.

The region continues to outpace the state, which added 12,700 jobs and ended 2014 with a 5.8% unemployment rate.