Business

Central Florida's economy runs on visitors, but its paychecks come from far more than the theme parks: hospitals, construction, logistics, the airport and the convention trade among them. The Chronicle follows employers, wages and growth in Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Lake counties with Bureau of Labor Statistics payroll and pay data, Census Bureau business figures and Florida's open-data portals.

Orlando opens fewer businesses, but a single neighborhood adds 104 more

The top-gaining neighborhood went from 150 openings to 254 through September, bucking the citywide decline.

By The Orlando Chronicle Data Desk · Oct 24, 2026

Orlando opens fewer businesses, but a single neighborhood adds 104 more

Central Florida's fastest income growth this decade comes from Lake County, not Orange

Lake County's per-capita income rose 27.9% since the decade began, edging past Orange County's 27.4%.

By The Orlando Chronicle Data Desk · Oct 20, 2026

Central Florida's fastest income growth this decade comes from Lake County, not Orange