Punta Gorda Talent Attraction Climbs to an Impressive No. 2
October 26th, 2026
Punta Gorda talent attraction now ranks No. 2 in the nation. Lightcast’s 2026 Talent Attraction Scorecard, released October 26, placed the Punta Gorda metro second among U.S. mid-sized metros, up from No. 5 last year. The metro covers all of Charlotte County. So the ranking reflects our full labor market, from Englewood to Port Charlotte to Punta Gorda.
Punta Gorda Talent Attraction Rises to No. 2
Specifically, Lightcast compares regions with 100,000 to 250,000 residents in its mid-sized category. This year, Florida took the top three spots: Wildwood-The Villages, Punta Gorda and Panama City-Panama City Beach. The scorecard weighs seven measures equally. They include overall, blue-collar and high-earning job growth. They also track how well a region attracts earners and prime-age workers ages 25 to 54.
In announcing the rankings, Lightcast’s Josh Wright, EVP of Strategy and Growth, said, “These rankings reflect the hard work and successful planning local leaders have accomplished to bring prosperity to their communities.”
Population growth backs up Punta Gorda talent attraction, too. Florida’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research estimates Charlotte County reached 223,430 residents in 2025. That’s up 19.6% from the 2020 Census.
Job Growth Behind Punta Gorda Talent Attraction
Lightcast’s 2025 report noted that older regions usually see slower job growth. However, it named Punta Gorda among the Florida metros where job growth has bucked that trend.
Aviation, for example, shows that momentum clearly. In April, Gulfshore Business reported that NAS MRO Services was finishing a large maintenance hangar at Punta Gorda Airport. The facility will support about 200 jobs. Moreover, those jobs start at $75,000 a year. In fact, Chief Operating Officer Nestor Camacho said the region’s aviation training pipeline helped bring the company here.
Meanwhile, that pipeline keeps growing. For instance, Charlotte Technical College has expanded its airframe and powerplant maintenance programs. In addition, a new 19,420-square-foot Aviation Maintenance Technology facility at the PGD Air Center is training local technicians.
Sites Ready Near the Talent
For companies following that talent, these is industrial land beside Punta Gorda Airport and I-75. For example, one featured property, 6200 Copley Drive, is a 53.9-acre ECAP-zoned site at I-75 Exit 164 with interstate visibility.
Furthermore, Punta Gorda Airport adds another advantage. It has topped 2.28 million passengers, and Allegiant added a new direct route to La Crosse, Wisconsin, starting October 1.
Hiring Help From Careers on the Coast
Once you’re here, Careers on the Coast helps turn Punta Gorda talent attraction into real hires. Employers can post openings, connect with local candidates, and access hiring toolkits and training support. Four education partners also offer certifications and workforce courses: Charlotte Technical College, Florida SouthWestern State College, Florida Gulf Coast University and Southern Technical College.
Explore Charlotte County
Evaluating a new location or expansion? Contact Economic Development in Charlotte County for site selection assistance, workforce connections and introductions to local training partners. We’ll help you see the talent behind the ranking firsthand.
Sources
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lightcast-releases-2026-talent-attraction-scorecard-302918464.html
https://lightcast.io/resources/research/talent-attraction-scorecard-26
https://lightcast.io/resources/research/talent-attraction-scorecard-25
https://edr.state.fl.us/Content/population-demographics/data/MSA-2025Estimate.pdf
https://www.gulfshorebusiness.com/charlotte/nas-mro-hangar-at-pgd-airport-to-create-200-new-jobs/article_e269d5e3-614c-4689-a1fb-a538d2a71540.html
