The Gainesville/Alachua County area is North Central Florida's employment hub. Its diversified labor force of more than 100,000 employees has overall education levels significantly higher than state averages. The University of Florida, along with governmental agencies, is the largest employer in Alachua County. Health care is second, followed by retail and service jobs plus a growing number of high-tech research, environmental engineering and agricultural interests.

Additional contributions to Alachua County's economic growth are made by film production. In recent years, the area has become an increasingly popular location for filming movies, commercials and more. The result is a lucrative influx of income and investment in the area, and new employment opportunities for film industry professional who live here. The weather, local support services and community involvement make this a perfect place for production companies.