Tampa has jumped 26 spots in a national ranking of high-wage job growth, climbing from No. 30 last year to No. 4 among the country’s largest metropolitan areas, according to Lightcast’s 2026 Talent Attraction Report.
The Tampa Bay metropolitan area also held onto its No. 10 overall ranking for talent attraction and retention for the second consecutive year, according to results announced Monday by the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council.
The report defines high-wage jobs in the region as positions paying more than $66,477 annually, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data, and also found improvement in Tampa’s ranking for population growth among working-age adults ages 25 to 54.
The rankings follow a year in which the Tampa Bay EDC completed 22 business recruitment and expansion projects expected to create 1,888 jobs and generate more than $221 million in capital investment across Hillsborough County. Eight of those projects involved companies new to the market, while the remaining 14 came from businesses expanding their existing operations.
Much of the EDC’s recruitment work focuses on corporate headquarters and employers in financial services, technology, health care, defense, logistics and manufacturing, industries that depend on a steady supply of skilled workers.
Craig Richard, the organization’s president and CEO, said the region’s ability to attract and develop that workforce has helped Tampa compete for business investment.
“Our ability to attract, retain and develop a skilled workforce is one of Tampa’s greatest competitive advantages, and it has made us a global destination for innovative companies and high-quality jobs,” Richard said.
The EDC and its community partners are also working to develop that workforce locally, introducing students to high-demand careers as early as middle school while promoting internships, apprenticeships and training opportunities. Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay is participating in a national pilot program called Talent Marketplace, designed to connect its alumni with career paths and job opportunities.
“This recognition reinforces why talent is at the heart of our economic development strategy and why we’re committed to building an even stronger workforce pipeline for the future,” said Casey Ellison, CEO of Ellison Companies and the EDC’s fiscal 2027 chairman. “The Tampa Bay EDC and our community partners are cultivating the next generation of talent by promoting awareness of high-demand careers, upskilling opportunities, internships, apprenticeships and more. These initiatives are fundamental to our mission to advance economic prosperity for all residents of Hillsborough County.”