Manatee and Sarasota Counties are home to a vast array of job possibilities that include government, educational, arts, and cultural fields that provide outlets for people of all walks of life to enjoy our fantastic area year round.

We have a small business community that we are extremely proud of with more than 54,000 self employed Manatee and Sarasota residents.

Bradenton ranks 5th on a list of Top 10 great places for working artists to live by Art Calendar, the industry's foremost business publication for visual artists.
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The following is a representation of the areas large business presence. Within the 7 major industrial categories, Administration and Support Services account for the largest overall employment rate. This is followed by Retail Trade, HealthCare and Social Services, Construction, Manufacturing and lastly Accommodation and Food Services.

( Source: 2006 ES202, Agency for Workforce Innovation - updated January 2008 )

Manatee County
15 Largest Employers (public/private)

Manatee County School Board - Public Education - 7,000
Beall’s Inc. - Retail - 2,100
Manatee County Government - Government – 1,960
Tropicana Products - Orange juice and juice beverages – 1,600
Manatee Memorial Hospital - Hospital - 1,500
Blake Medical Center - Hospital – 1,052
Manatee County Sheriff’s Department - Law Enforcement – 1,007
SYSCO Food Services West Coast Florida - Food distribution - 700
Hoverround Corp. - Power wheelchairs and scooters - 670
City of Bradenton City - Government - 550
Gevity HR - Employee Leasing - 500
Manatee Community College - Post Secondary Education – 437
Pierce Manufacturing Inc. – Manufacturer of Emergency Vehicles - 400
IMG Academies/Bollettieri – International Sports Training Facility - 350
Eaton Corporation - Manufacturer of Electronic Equipment – 300

Population

2007 Estimate 323,374
5-Year Growth Rate 12.2%
Median Age 42.8 Years Old
Median Household Income 49,076
2007 Unemployment Rate 4.0%
Over 20,000 Residents are Self Employed

Sarasota County
15 Largest Employers (public/private)

School Board of Sarasota County - 5,368
Sarasota Memorial Hospital - 3,951
Sarasota County Government - 3,531
Publix Supermarkets - 3,300
PGT Industries - 1,870
Wal-Mart - 963
Nielsen Media Research - 716
Venice Regional Medical Center - 702
Sarasota Herald-Tribune - 674
FCCI Insurance Group - 670
Doctors Hospital of Sarasota - 628
The Home Depot - 550
The Ritz Carlton of Sarasota - 530
Longboat Key Club and Resort - 450
Sun Hydraulics Corp. - 429  

Population

2007 Estimate 382,499
5-Year Growth Rate 10.2%
Median Age 49.4 Years Old
Median Household Income 49,076
2006 Unemployment Rate 3.0%
Over 34,000 Residents Are Self Employed