Southern Search

If you're in Florida construction and engineering, this confirms what we're already seeing on the ground. Skanska just released their Spring 2025 Construction Market Trends Report for Tampa Bay — and the takeaways matter for anyone hiring or looking for work in this market. The headlines: healthcare and K-12 education are the fastest-growing sectors in the region. Population growth of 7% since 2020 — over 270,000 new residents — is driving demand for hospitals, schools, and infrastructure that isn't slowing down. Data centers are emerging as a major growth sector too. The labor picture is shifting. As Orlando's theme park construction wind-down, workers are becoming more available in the broader Florida market. That's creating a window — but the underlying skilled trades shortage hasn't gone away. Skanska notes 94% of construction firms are still struggling to fill onsite roles. A few things I'm watching closely as a construction recruiter in this market: The project pipeline for healthcare and K-12 is strong through 2026. Companies that aren't building their talent bench now will be scrambling when awards hit. Technical training programs like Plant City Technical College are part of the long-term solution — but the short-term gap is real and it's yours to capitalize on if you're a skilled professional in this region. Cost inflation is stabilizing at under 3% annually. That means more projects are moving forward. More projects mean more hiring. Tampa Bay's construction market isn't slowing down. The firms that staff smartly right now will be the ones delivering when it matters. Reach out to Chase Squires if you want dedicated recruiting resources for your firm - Chase@gosouthernsearch.com

One of the biggest projects in Florida history just got a face — and it's right in our backyard. The Tampa Bay Rays officially released renderings of their proposed new ballpark in Tampa's Westshore District. A 31,000-seat domed stadium on the Dale Mabry college campus, sitting directly across from Raymond James. $2.3 billion for the stadium alone, with the full mixed-use district potentially reaching $8–10 billion in total investment. The numbers behind it are staggering — $34 billion in projected economic impact over 30 years and nearly 12,000 new jobs. They're targeting Opening Day 2029. Design firms are already in place: Populous, Gensler, Kimley-Horn, and Walter P Moore. But as of now, no general contractor has been named. ***That's the piece I'm watching closely. When a GC is selected for a project of this scale, it sets off a hiring wave across the entire project team — superintendents, project managers, estimators, safety professionals. The subcontractor community in Tampa Bay will feel it too. If you're a construction professional in Florida and want to be positioned when this project starts moving, now is the time to make sure your career is in the right place. This is exactly the kind of project that changes careers — and companies.

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Hiring a Mechanical Project Manager here in St. Petersburg for a great firm.

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Calling all Tilt-Wall Project Managers in the Tampa area. Our client is looking for Project Managers to join as Senior Project Managers. Manage teams, manage clients, and have the autonomy to to make decisions to control outcomes around incredible projects.

HIRING! Sr. Project Managers for large scale industrial, warehouse, and commercial projects in the Southeast. Reach out to find out more!

HIRING! Sr. Project Managers for large scale industrial, warehouse, and commercial projects in the Southeast. Reach out to find out more!