Systems administrator Johnny Hall left Silicon Valley for greener pastures in Lakeland, Fla. The same house that would have cost him more than $400,000 in San Jose, Calif., costs him only $150,000 in his new Central Florida
community of 100,000 people.

    While the economy continues to falter across the U.S., symptomatic layoffs have not been as harsh in the Miami area. Only 2.6 percent of the state layoff notices filed during the first quarter of this year were from South Florida. Experts agree the that Miami's economy is tied more closely with markets in Latin America, and while those markets faltered in previous years, their comeback heralds better economic conditions for South Florida.
      "Florida is going to be impacted on a proportional basis as the rest of the country," says Mike Fitzgerald, president of business development for Enterprise Florida. "The exception is in Miami."
      The Sunshine State appears to be weathering the financial instability better than most and that could be attributed to the state's growing population and labor force. Florida is the fourth most populous state in the nation, more than 15 million strong, and current statewide unemployment rates are at 3.8 percent for February. Since 1990, one out of every 13 new jobs in the U.S. was created in Florida.
      The state's economy continues to diversify beyond the traditional tourism and agricultural base. Gov. Jeb Bush and the Florida Legislature realize a developing Florida needs a skilled work force. Last August, one of the state's most successful welfare training programs, WAGES (Work and Gain Economic Self-sufficiency), was merged into Workforce Florida, a public-private partnership. Nearly 60 percent of welfare recipients found gainful employment under WAGES.
      Florida officials agree that a highly skilled labor force will contribute to the appeal to businesses looking to locate in the state. The state maintains attempts to attract high-tech industries, but the lack of highly skilled technical workers is often a stumbling block. "I found Florida graduates one of the highest number of electrical engineers in the country," says Steve Marro, executive director of Enterprise Flagler, a nonprofit economic development group in Flagler County. "But only 18 percent stay in Florida."
      Florida offers two statewide labor-training programs for business administered by Workforce Florida. The Incumbent Worker Program is a customized training program offered to business to retain and upgrade valuable employees. The program also offers companies the added benefit of an increasingly competitive work force. The Quick Response Training Program allows new or expanding firms to quickly train and place new employees. The grant is administered in conjunction with the Florida Dept. of Education. Since 1993, QRT has placed more than 45,000 employees.
      In March, Mitsubishi officials announced two new facilities for Central Florida. The company is building its power systems headquarters in Seminole County and a manufacturing center in Orange County. The facilities represent a $44 million investment and will create 466 new jobs. Cendant Mortgage anticipates employing 4,000 workers within five years at its Jacksonville Southside Center. The company signed an outsource agreement with Merrill Lynch Credit Corp. Cendant officials say they hope to be the employer of choice in Jacksonville.