Charlotte County Economic Development: What Florida’s September Jobs Report Means for Employers
October 20th, 2026
Florida’s September jobs report points in a direction that favors economic development in Charlotte County. Statewide unemployment fell to 4.4%, its fourth straight monthly decline, and the industries adding jobs line up with the ones Charlotte County is built to grow: transportation and logistics, construction and manufacturing.
Employers across Florida say finding skilled talent is their top concern. Charlotte County is answering that challenge with new aviation and advanced manufacturing training at Punta Gorda Airport, right next to the sites where those companies can locate.
Florida’s September jobs report at a glance
FloridaCommerce’s September data, released Oct. 16, shows a labor market that keeps improving. The seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate dropped to 4.4% from 4.5% in August. The rate has come down a tenth of a point each month since peaking at 4.8% in May.
Florida’s labor force reached 11.1 million, growing by 21,000 people over the year. More people working or looking for work gives growing companies a deeper pool to draw from.
The report also captured what employers are feeling. Small business owners surveyed by the National Federation of Independent Business named labor quality and availability as their top issue for the third month in a row. That is exactly where communities with strong training partnerships stand out, and it is where Charlotte County has been investing.
Statewide job gains match Charlotte County’s target industries
Over the past 12 months, Florida added 8,300 jobs in transportation and utilities, 3,300 in construction and 2,100 in manufacturing. Those are three sectors at the heart of Charlotte County’s recruitment strategy.
| Florida sector | Jobs added over 12 months | Charlotte County connection |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation and utilities | 8,300 | Logistics and aviation operations at Punta Gorda Airport (PGD) |
| Construction | 3,300 | Industrial and commercial development in Enterprise Charlotte Airport Park |
| Manufacturing | 2,100 | Advanced manufacturing training and shovel-ready industrial sites |
Charlotte County is positioned to capture this momentum. PGD anchors an aviation and logistics hub, Interstate 75 connects the county to markets across Florida, and Enterprise Charlotte Airport Park offers room to build next to the airport. What makes the difference for site selectors is talent, and that is where the county’s newest training investments come in.
Aviation maintenance training at Punta Gorda Airport
Charlotte Technical College’s $6 million Aviation Training Facility is now open at Punta Gorda Airport, inside the PGD Aviation Expansion Area near the PGD Air Center. The 19,420-square-foot building includes a 10,000-square-foot hangar, classrooms and labs with industry-standard equipment.
Students train hands-on in Aviation Maintenance Technology and prepare for FAA airframe and powerplant certification. The program enrolls 68 students, and the facility can train up to 100 at a time. Its graduates are qualified for some of the most in-demand technical roles in aviation.
The facility was built through a partnership among the Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners, the Charlotte County Airport Authority and Charlotte County Public Schools. Airport CEO James Parish has said the program helps PGD attract “airlines, maintenance organizations, and related industries.”
For an MRO, aircraft operator or aerospace supplier, that means training happens on the same airfield where the work does.
The Southwest Florida Advanced Manufacturing Training Center
Charlotte County Public Schools broke ground in June 2026 on the Southwest Florida Advanced Manufacturing Training Center at Enterprise Charlotte Airport Park. Led by the district and Charlotte Technical College, the center will train high school students and adult learners in advanced manufacturing, CNC machining, welding, aerospace and other technical fields.
The project launched with a $1.75 million state appropriation, and the district is positioning it as a regional hub for aerospace and advanced manufacturing training. Construction is scheduled for completion before the 2027–28 school year.
Location is a strategic advantage. The center sits inside the same airport business park where manufacturers and aviation companies can build, so employers can shape curriculum, host work-based learning and recruit graduates without leaving the neighborhood.
Together with the aviation facility, the center gives Charlotte County two purpose-built technical training campuses at PGD. Few communities its size can offer manufacturers and aviation firms that kind of talent infrastructure on site.
What site selectors can expect from Charlotte County
Companies weighing a Florida location are asking one question above all: where will we find our people? Charlotte County answers with a connected system rather than a single program.
- Training on the airfield. Aviation maintenance training is open now at PGD, and advanced manufacturing training is under construction next door.
- Room to grow. Enterprise Charlotte Airport Park and new industrial projects such as Duffie North at the Punta Gorda Airport Commerce Center are adding modern space near the airport.
- Partners at the table. Charlotte County Public Schools, Charlotte Technical College, the Charlotte County Airport Authority and the Charlotte County Economic Development Office work together on employer needs.
- Access. PGD, Interstate 75 and a central Southwest Florida location connect operations to markets statewide.
The Charlotte County Economic Development Office helps companies put those pieces together early in a search. Our team can prepare workforce data for your target occupations, introduce you to training partners and tour available sites.
Request a workforce and site briefing for your project at cleared4takeoff.com.
Frequently asked questions
What was Florida’s unemployment rate in September 2026? Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.4% in September, down from 4.5% in August. It was the fourth consecutive monthly decline.
Which Florida industries added jobs over the past year? Education and health services led statewide growth. Transportation and utilities added 8,300 jobs, construction added 3,300 and manufacturing added 2,100.
What aviation training is available at Punta Gorda Airport? Charlotte Technical College operates a 19,420-square-foot Aviation Training Facility with a 10,000-square-foot hangar. It prepares students for FAA airframe and powerplant certification.
When will the Southwest Florida Advanced Manufacturing Training Center open? Charlotte County Public Schools broke ground in June 2026. Construction is scheduled for completion before the 2027–28 school year.
How does economic development in Charlotte County support employers? The Charlotte County Economic Development Office provides workforce data, introductions to training partners and site tours for companies considering a new location or expansion.
Building the workforce that growth requires
Florida’s September report shows a stronger labor market and growth in the sectors Charlotte County targets. Employers statewide say talent is their biggest challenge, and Charlotte County is meeting it with aviation and advanced manufacturing training built right at Punta Gorda Airport.
For companies in aviation, advanced manufacturing and logistics, economic development in Charlotte County means a location where training, sites and partners are already working together. Start the conversation at cleared4takeoff.com.
Sources
- News Service of Florida via WLRN, “Florida jobless rate dips in September,” Oct. 16, 2026: https://www.wlrn.org/business/2026-10-16/florida-jobless-rate-dips-in-september
- Gulfshore Business, “CTC unveils $6 million aviation training hub at PGD”: https://www.gulfshorebusiness.com/education/ctc-unveils-6-million-aviation-training-hub-at-pgd/article_0ca9ce41-8333-4c06-b39e-169a85ae5c5c.html
- Business Observer, “Charlotte County aviation training center on track for December finish,” March 11, 2025: https://www.businessobserverfl.com/news/2025/mar/11/charlotte-aviation-training-center-december-finish
- Charlotte County Economic Development, “Charlotte Technical College Launches Construction of New Aviation Training Facility”: https://cleared4takeoff.com/?p=1869
- Charlotte County Economic Development, “Advanced Manufacturing in Charlotte County Moves Forward With New Workforce Training Center”: https://cleared4takeoff.com/?p=8502
- Charlotte County Economic Development, December 2025 Cleared 4 Takeoff Newsletter: https://cleared4takeoff.com/?p=5396
