Sarasota Area Named One Of Fastest-Growing Job Markets In U.S.

SARASOTA, FL — The Sarasota area is one of the fastest-growing metropolitan regions in the country for jobs and new talent, according to a new LinkedIn ranking.

The North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota metropolitan area ranked No. 4 on LinkedIn's 2026 “Cities on the Rise” list, which highlights U.S. metros where hiring, job postings and the arrival of new talent are gaining momentum.

The ranking places the Sarasota area behind Augusta, Georgia; Richmond, Virginia; and Reno, Nevada. Find the full list here.

The Sarasota area was one of two Florida metros to make the top 25. Pensacola ranked No. 7.

LinkedIn analyzed data from March 2024 through February 2026, looking at growth in hiring, job postings and professional migration. To qualify for the list, metropolitan areas had to show above-median growth across those measures and attract more LinkedIn members than they lost.

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The ranking shared why the Sarasota area is on the rise, writing, “An influx of Midwesterners, retirees and remote workers has driven rapid population growth, building on pandemic-era momentum. Major investments — from the Wellen Park planned community to a $507 million hospital campus — are creating new homes and jobs, while the metro continues to attract tourists with its Gulf Coast beaches, vibrant arts scene and year-round outdoor living.”

The region’s top industries currently hiring include real estate, hospitals and health care, and technology and internet, according to LinkedIn.

The top employers are the Sarasota Memorial Healthcare System, Sarasota County Schools, and Sarasota County government.

The median income in the Sarasota area is $84,050, and the average home listing price is $978,680, the list said.