As the employment hub of North Central Florida, Alachua County offers an experienced, regional labor force of more than 122,000. An additional 60,000 students from the University of Florida and Santa Fe Community College provide employers with a seasonal and part-time labor force.
Alachua County's economic base provides employment not only for local residents, but also for people from neighboring counties. As a result of lower average wages and salary earnings in these communities, many commute outside their county of residence to Alachua County for employment.
Alachua County also offers a younger labor force, with a median age of 29.4 compared to Florida's median age of 39.6.
The county's strong educational system offers employers a highly skilled labor force. More than 2,000 students graduate from Santa Fe Community College (SFCC) each year ready to begin careers in technology and applied sciences. TechPrep is an innovative program sponsored by the School Board of Alachua County, SFCC and the local business community that allows high school students to gain technical skills in the field of their choice while also attending classes needed to graduate.