by Fred Seely, Editor
How’s the market doing?
Says one of Florida’s top economists: “Everything that’s supposed to be going up is going up. Everything that’s supposed to be going down is going down.”
That’s the good news from Dr. John Tuccillo, who was here last month for his annual stop at a Sales and Marketing Council meeting.
He’s the lead researcher and analyst for the state’s real estate association, Florida Realtors, and this year’s message centered around jobs.
“Employment. The single most important thing today,” he said before a full house at UNF’s University Center. “There is no way to become prosperous without good employment.”
And how’s employment doing?
“Getting by just barely,” he said. “Nationally, there needs to be 150,000 jobs created each month just to keep up with the workforce demands. We’re doing this, but not by much.”
And what needs to happen?
“First, we need new industries, new businesses,” he said. “Like in the 90’s when the technology boom hit. Lots of jobs were created. We don’t have that new industry now.”
And second?
“Can we restore the manufacturing industry? ‘Made in China.’ We’re now used to that label almost everywhere. But why can’t we start seeing ‘Made in the USA’ again?
“We can and I think we will. Next year, the lines cross ... the U.S. will be more efficient manufacturing than China. Hasn’t been that way in a long time.”