• Florida’s tech employment sector grew by 4.8 percent in 2022, nearly two percentage points higher than the national average of 3.2 percent, resulting in approximately 22,029 new tech workers.
• The state’s tech industry employs 485,000 people, accounting for 4.9 percent of the total state workforce, with an estimated median wage for a tech worker of $81,533, 113 percent higher than the median wage for all occupations in the state.
• The report predicts a 3.5 percent rise in tech employment statewide by 2023, which is anticipated to generate around 17,000 new job opportunities, and that several tech sectors are expected to grow in Florida this year, including software development, programming, web development, quality, and emerging technologies.

A “State of the Tech Workforce” report published by CompTIA depicts the growth of Florida’s tech employment sector in 2022. The report indicates that net tech industry employment in Florida increased by 4.8 percent, nearly two percentage points higher than the national average of 3.2 percent.

The surge in employment figures resulted in an approximate addition of 22,029 new tech workers to Florida’s labor force, propelling the state to the third-highest rank in the nation. The report also predicts a 3.5 percent rise in tech employment statewide by 2023, which is anticipated to generate around 17,000 new job opportunities.

Florida’s tech industry currently employs 485,000 people, accounting for 4.9 percent of the total state workforce. The estimated median wage for a tech worker in Florida is $81,533, which is 113 percent higher than the median wage for all occupations in the state.

Further, the tech industry’s economic impact in Florida is $79.9 billion, or 6.4 percent of the state’s economy. Statewide, CompTIA accounts for 38,796 tech business establishments in the state, with 2,733 of them opening in 2022, marking the highest total in the country. Florida’s tech workforce is ranked fourth in size nationally.

The report predicts that several tech sectors are expected to grow in Florida this year, including software development, programming, web development, quality, and emerging technologies. It also indicates that 24 percent of all tech job postings in the state in 2022 were for emerging tech-related occupations or positions requiring emerging tech skills.

Nationwide, Florida had the most net-new tech business establishments, with an increase of 2,733 year-over-year, followed by Texas, North Carolina, Illinois, and Colorado.

The report also projects that the tech industry will continue to grow, with an anticipated increase of 16,959 jobs and 3.5 percent for 2023. The tech sector is expected to account for 4.9 percent of Florida’s overall workforce, with an estimated economic impact of $79.9 billion, which represents 6.4 percent of the state’s economy.

Florida has emerged as a rapidly growing hub for technology innovation in recent years, with a burgeoning ecosystem of startups, established companies, and top-tier universities producing a steady stream of talented graduates. The state’s pro-business environment, supportive government policies, and investment in infrastructure have all contributed to its rise as a technology hub. Florida boasts some of the best universities in the country, including the University of Florida and Florida State University, which produce a large number of graduates in technology-related fields.

In a new study conducted by Capital on Tap, Florida was named the best state to start a small business, with the credit lender pointing to the state’s 5.5 percent corporate tax rate and an abundance of jobs created through startup companies.

Small businesses — including those in the technology sector — are a significant contributor to Florida’s economy, representing 99.8 percent of all businesses in the state, according to the Florida Small Business Association. These small businesses are responsible for providing employment opportunities to a significant portion of the state’s workforce, with 41.1 percent of Florida employees working for small businesses.