Orlando, Florida is most well known for being “The Theme Park Capital of the World” and home to Walt Disney World. The theme park’s construction greatly shaped the city into what it is today, tourism being its number one industry and biggest revenue generator thanks to its more than 68 million visitors annually.
Located in Central Florida, Orlando City is the center of the Orlando metropolitan area, which had an estimated population of 2,387,138 in 2016, while Orlando city-proper population was just around 277,000, according to US Census Bureau.
Read on to find out what it’s like to live and work in Orlando.
Working in Orlando
Industry
Orlando’s diverse economy has one main driving industry: tourism. As one of the world’s most visited tourist destinations, Orlando’s famous attractions are critical to the economy in no small part. Theme Parks include Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, Kennedy Space Center, Gator Land, Lego Land, and Seaworld.
Along with tourism, Orlando is also a major industrial and hi-tech center, digital media, agricultural technology, aviation, aerospace, and software design. The convention industry is also critical to the region’s economy.
The Orange County Convention Center, is the second-largest convention complex in terms of space in the US, with 1.4 million attendees annually and brings in an estimated $2.2 billion economic impact annually to the Central Florida economy
Employers to note
Top Orlando employers of note include: Walt Disney World, Orange County Public Schools, State of Florida Government, Adventist Health System, Florida Hospital, Wal-Mart, Orlando Regional Healthcare System, Universal Studios Orlando, Publix Super Markets, and the Federal Government.
Lockheed Martin has a large manufacturing facility for missile systems, aeronautical craft and related high-tech research, as well as many other notable engineering firms have offices or labs in Metro Orlando.
Did you know…?
Lake Eola, located in the heart of downtown Orlando, is actually a giant sinkhole. Its deepest point is 80 feet.
Search jobs in Orlando
Living in Orlando
Life in Orlando
People heading to Orlando can expect warm temperatures year round, with its lowest January temperatures around 60 degrees Fahrenheit, and highest in July peaking around 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
You may be disappointed to learn that there are no beaches in Orlando, as it’s a landlocked city. However, this does provide some protection from hurricanes which are known to plague Florida. Luckily, you can still get some relief from the heat with more than 100 lakes in and around Orlando.
Transportation in Orlando
Orlando is also plagued with traffic woes, with daily local commuters as well as tourists, most Orlandoans spend a lot of time in traffic.
Orlando has two airports, within the city limits, Orlando Executive Airport and the Orlando International Airport.
LYNX is the local bus service that provides transportation throughout the City of Orlando. LYNX accommodates more than 105,000 passengers daily. Orlando also offers a fare-free Downtown Orlando circulator known as LYMMO. Along with the bus service, Orlando and surrounding areas also have a commuter rail that services Central Florida.
Most Orlando residents, however, commute to work by car, with 79% driving alone according to 2015 Census estimates.
House prices in Orlando
The US Census for 2015 estimates 53.1% of households in Orlando spend $800-$1,499 on monthly housing costs.
According to Zillow, the median price of homes currently listed in Orlando is $260,990 and the median rent price is $1,425. They also predict Orlando home values will rise 4.0% within the next year.
Education in Orlando
Orlando is home to the University of Central Florida (UFC); the largest university campus in the United States in terms of enrollment as of 2015, as well as Rollins College in Winter Park.
UFC has more than 42,000 students and offers undergraduate, graduate, and specialist programs in business, education, engineering, health sciences, nursing, as well as emerging fields of high technology, including aviation and aerospace, biotechnology, and modeling, simulation and training.
Rollins College, a private institution, is primarily a coeducational liberal arts institution, offering bachelor’s degrees in 36 fields and graduate study in business administration, education, and psychology.
48% of residents 18 years old or higher have a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2015, according to 2015 estimates from the US Census Bureau.
Check out Resume-Library and see what jobs in Orlando are available!
