Our recent series of blogs on commuter characteristics was very well received and generated follow-up questions.  In this blog, we will investigate commuter flows across counties and what industries are employing these inbound and outbound commuters.  In the next blog, we will be discussing commuter flows between jurisdictions in Hillsborough County.

Key Takeaways

1. 88K Hillsborough residents commute to work in other counties (23% higher than in 2016).
2. 139K workers from other counties commute to Hillsborough for work (7% higher than in 2016). It ranked the third most popular destination for inbound commuters in the state.
3. In the Tampa Bay Region, Pasco County has the largest number of residents who commute to other counties for work (~99K commuters). It ranked the second most popular home county for outbound commuters in the state.
4. The number of Polk County workers commuting to Hillsborough County increased to 17K (42% higher than 2016). Alternatively, the number of Hillsborough County workers commuting to Polk County increased to 16K (29% higher than 2016).
5. Top 5 Florida Counties for inbound commuters: Broward (130K), Duval (109K), Hillsborough (139K), Miami-Dade (160K), and Orange (263K).
6. Top 5 Florida Counties for outbound commuters: Broward (204K), Hillsborough (88K), Orange (91K), Pasco (98K) and Seminole (98K).
7. Three industry groups dominate commuting patterns: Information and Financial Services; Wholesale, Retail, and Transportation; and Educational and Health Services

Regional Commuter Trends

Inbound Commuters to Tampa Bay Region Counties

In 2021, 376K commuters drove to the 8 Tampa Bay Region Counties for work (22% higher than 2016). For these inbound commuters, their home counties may be inside or outside the Tampa Bay Region. As seen in Table 1 and Figures 1a-1c, all 8 Tampa Bay Counties have seen an increasing number of inbound commuters.  Their numbers ranged from 6K (Citrus County) to 139K (Hillsborough County) and averaged 47K inbound commuters.  Since 2016, growth ranged from 6.72% (Hillsborough County) to 43.02% (Citrus County) and averaged 23.74%. Citrus, Hernando, and Pasco saw the fastest growth in inbound commuters.

Table 1.  Inbound Commuters to Tampa Bay Region Counties: 2010, 2016, and 2021

Destination Counties	2010	2016	2021	2010-2016 Percent Change	2016-2021 Percent Change	2010-2021 Percent Change
Citrus	4,158	3,838	5,489	-7.70%	43.02%	32.01%
Hernando	8,085	7,547	10,404	-6.65%	37.86%	28.68%
Hillsborough	123,148	130,218	138,967	5.74%	6.72%	12.85%
Manatee	19,059	19,011	21,824	-0.25%	14.80%	14.51%
Pasco	24,879	26,532	34,166	6.64%	28.77%	37.33%
Pinellas	67,704	69,044	80,251	1.98%	16.23%	18.53%
Polk	22,204	27,154	34,003	22.29%	25.22%	53.14%
Sarasota	38,073	43,198	50,680	13.46%	17.32%	33.11%
Tampa Bay Counties	307,310	326,542	375,784	6.26%	15.08%	22.28%

Figure 1a.  Inbound Commuters Destined for Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, and Manatee Counties

Figure 1b.  Inbound Commuters Destined for Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota Counties

Figure 1c.  Map of Inbound Commuters Destined for Tampa Bay Region Counties

Outbound Commuters from Tampa Bay Region Counties

Alternatively, in 2021, 414K Tampa Bay Region commuters drove to other counties for work (17% higher than 2016). These outbound commuters may reside inside or outside the Tampa Bay Region. As seen in Table 2 and Figures 2a-2c, all 8 Tampa Bay Counties have seen an increasing number of residents commute to other counties for work.  Their numbers ranged from 11K (Citrus County) to 99K (Pasco County) and averaged 52K outbound commuters.  Since 2016, growth ranged 0.70% (Pinellas County) to 38.23% (Polk County) and averaged 17.72%.

Table 2.  Tampa Bay Region Counties – Outbound Commuters

Origin Counties	2010	2016	2021	2010-2016 Percent Change	2016-2021 Percent Change	2010-2021 Percent Change
Citrus	9,660	9,394	11,157	-2.75%	18.77%	15.50%
Hernando	21,627	20,548	25,758	-4.99%	25.36%	19.10%
Hillsborough	59,413	71,284	87,508	19.98%	22.76%	47.29%
Manatee	35,144	41,258	46,015	17.40%	11.53%	30.93%
Pasco	88,289	86,081	98,565	-2.50%	14.50%	11.64%
Pinellas	53,490	54,358	54,740	1.62%	0.70%	2.34%
Polk	46,798	48,342	66,823	3.30%	38.23%	42.79%
Sarasota	23,008	21,107	23,204	-8.26%	9.94%	0.85%
Tampa Bay Counties	337,429	352,372	413,770	4.43%	17.42%	22.62%

Figure 2a.  Outbound Commuters Originating in Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, and Manatee Counties

Figure 2b.  Outbound Commuters Originating in Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota Counties

Figure 2c.  Map of Outbound Commuters Originating in Tampa Bay Region Counties

Tampa Bay Region Counties – Commuter Flows

Table 3a shows commuter flows amongst Tampa Bay Counties. The totals may not add up exactly to previous totals in Tables 1 and 2 because some commuters travel to or from counties outside the Tampa Bay Region. In the case of Citrus, several inbound commuters reside in Marion County. Table 3b shows the top origin and destination counties for the 8 Tampa Bay Region Counties. 

Table 3a.  Tampa Bay Region Counties – 2017-2021 Commuter Flows Amongst Counties

	Origin Tampa Bay Counties
Destination Tampa Bay Counties	Citrus	Hernando	Hillsborough	Manatee	Pasco	Pinellas	Polk	Sarasota	Total
Citrus	0	1,855	220	0	380	115	40	10	2,620
Hernando	2,145	0	995	0	5,995	260	55	0	9,450
Hillsborough	690	7,110	0	3,745	57,875	43,405	17,015	1,245	131,085
Manatee	0	35	5,990	0	285	1,985	205	11,065	19,565
Pasco	385	11,935	15,125	105	0	4,845	555	125	33,075
Pinellas	225	2,210	40,735	4,835	28,540	0	935	630	78,110
Polk	90	295	15,935	260	2,360	780	0	90	19,810
Sarasota	0	60	2,440	35,730	285	955	190	0	39,660
Total	3,535	23,500	81,440	44,675	95,720	52,345	18,995	13,165	333,375

As seen in Table 3b, the commuter flow data reveal a highly interconnected region, with Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, and Hernando counties forming a dense commuting core, frequently exchanging workers across shared industries. Hillsborough stands out as a central hub, appearing repeatedly as a top destination and origin for commuters. Across nearly all counties, three industry groups dominate commuting patterns: Information and Financial Services; Wholesale, Retail, and Transportation; and Educational and Health Services. These consistent patterns highlight the regional economy’s reliance on these sectors. Additionally, inland counties like Citrus and Hernando show distinct industrial mixes—such as agriculture and construction—reflecting their more rural character, while Polk County stands out for a notable presence of arts and accommodation industries among outbound workers.

Table 3b.  Tampa Bay Region Counties – Top 3 Counties and Industries for Inbound and Outbound Commuters

Destination Counties	2021 Inbound Commuters’ Counties	2021 Inbound Commuters’ Industries	2021 Outbound Commuters’ Counties	2021 Outbound Commuters’ Industries
Citrus	1) Hernando, 2) Marion, And 3) Levy	1) Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing And Hunting, And Mining; + Construction; + Armed Forces, 2) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, And 3) Educational, Health And Social Services	1) Marion, 2) Hernando, And 3) Sumter	1) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, 2) Educational, Health And Social Services, And 3) Other Services (Except Public Administration); + Public Administration
Hernando	1) Pasco, 2) Citrus, And 3) Hillsborough	1) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, 2) Educational, Health And Social Services, And 3) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services	1) Pasco, 2) Hillsborough, And 3) Pinellas	1) Educational, Health And Social Services, 2) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, And 3) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services
Hillsborough	1) Pasco, 2) Pinellas, And 3) Polk	1) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services, 2) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, And 3) Educational, Health And Social Services	1) Pinellas, 2) Polk, And 3) Pasco	1) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services, 2) Educational, Health And Social Services, And 3) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities
Manatee	1) Sarasota, 2) Hillsborough, And 3) Pinellas	1) Educational, Health And Social Services, 2) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, And 3) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services	1) Sarasota, 2) Pinellas, And 3) Hillsborough	1) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services, 2) Educational, Health And Social Services, And 3) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities
Pasco	1) Hillsborough, 2) Hernando, And 3) Pinellas	1) Educational, Health And Social Services, 2) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, And 3) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services	1) Hillsborough, 2) Pinellas, And 3) Hernando	1) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services, 2) Educational, Health And Social Services, And 3) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities
Pinellas	1) Hillsborough, 2) Pasco, And 3) Manatee	1) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services, 2) Educational, Health And Social Services, And 3) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities	1) Hillsborough, 2) Pasco, And 3) Manatee	1) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services, 2) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, And 3) Educational, Health And Social Services
Polk	1) Hillsborough, 2) Osceola, And 3) Orange	1) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, 2) Educational, Health And Social Services, And 3) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services	1) Orange, 2) Hillsborough, And 3) Osceola	1) Arts, Entertainment, Recreation, Accommodation And Food Services, 2) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, And 3) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services
Sarasota	1) Manatee, 2) Charlotte, And 3) Hillsborough	1) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services, 2) Educational, Health And Social Services, And 3) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities	1) Manatee, 2) Charlotte, And 3) Lee	1) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, 2) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services, And 3) Educational, Health And Social Services

Hillsborough County – Commuters by Industry Groups

As stated in an earlier blog, Hillsborough County has the largest economy of the Tampa Bay Region.  Most inbound and outbound commuters have jobs in 3 industry groups: Education, Information and Trade.  These three industries represent over 60% of the inbound and outbound commuters.

Table 4a.  Hillsborough County – Inbound Commuters by Industry Group

Tampa Bay Origin Counties of Commuters to Hillsborough County	2010	2016	2021	2010-2016 Percent Change	2016-2021 Percent Change	2010-2021 Percent Change	2010 Share of Tota	2016 Share of Total	2021 Share of Total
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining; + Construction; + Armed Forces	12,365	9,730	14,000	-21.31%	43.88%	13.22%	11%	8%	11%
Manufacturing;	7,055	7,250	7,445	2.76%	2.69%	5.53%	6%	6%	6%
Wholesale trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation and warehousing, and utilities	24,465	24,820	26,435	1.45%	6.51%	8.05%	21%	20%	20%
Information; + Finance, insurance, real estate and rental and leasing; + Professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste management services	35,475	38,365	37,030	8.15%	-3.48%	4.38%	30%	31%	28%
Educational, health and social services	19,920	24,555	25,655	23.27%	4.48%	28.79%	17%	20%	20%
Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services	7,850	8,720	9,885	11.08%	13.36%	25.92%	7%	7%	8%
Other services (except public administration); + Public Administration	9,310	9,975	10,620	7.14%	6.47%	14.07%	8%	8%	8%
Tampa Bay Counties	116,440	123,415	131,070	5.99%	6.20%	12.56%	100%	100%	100%

Figure 3a.  Hillsborough County – Share of Inbound Commuters by Industry Group

Table 4b.  Hillsborough County – Outbound Commuters by Industry Group

Tampa Bay Destination Counties of Commuters from Hillsborough County	2010	2016	2021	2010-2016 Percent Change	2016-2021 Percent Change	2010-2021 Percent Change	2010 Share of Tota	2016 Share of Total	2021 Share of Total
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining; + Construction; + Armed Forces	5,684	4,915	8,850	-13.53%	80.06%	55.70%	11%	7%	11%
Manufacturing;	6,115	6,525	7,560	6.70%	15.86%	23.63%	11%	10%	9%
Wholesale trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation and warehousing, and utilities	11,090	13,700	16,535	23.53%	20.69%	49.10%	21%	21%	20%
Information; + Finance, insurance, real estate and rental and leasing; + Professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste management services	13,825	17,665	19,595	27.78%	10.93%	41.74%	26%	27%	24%
Educational, health and social services	9,175	13,475	17,860	46.87%	32.54%	94.66%	17%	20%	22%
Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services	3,560	4,600	5,745	29.21%	24.89%	61.38%	7%	7%	7%
Other services (except public administration); + Public Administration	4,570	5,160	5,305	12.91%	2.81%	16.08%	8%	8%	7%
Tampa Bay Counties	54,019	66,040	81,450	22.25%	23.33%	50.78%	100%	100%	100%

Figure 3b.  Hillsborough County – Share of Outbound Commuters by Industry Group

Florida Counties – Inbound and Outbound Commuters

Florida’s commuter landscape shifted notably between the 2012–2016 and 2017–2021 periods, revealing the rapid transformation of suburban counties into major players in the state’s economic web. Counties like Polk and Osceola saw dramatic growth in outbound commuters—38% and 25%, respectively—reflecting explosive residential development outpacing local job creation. Meanwhile, counties such as Orange, Hillsborough, and Broward continued to attract large numbers of inbound workers, solidifying their roles as regional employment hubs. Despite this movement, commuting patterns remained relatively stable in terms of origin and destination pairings, with strong two-way flows between neighboring counties like Orange–Seminole and Miami-Dade–Broward, underscoring long-standing regional interdependencies.

Industry data reveals that commuting is not confined to low-wage or service jobs. High-skill sectors—including information, finance, and professional services—rank among the top industries drawing commuters in nearly every major county. This suggests that Florida’s workforce is increasingly mobile across both job type and geography, with professionals often traveling significant distances to access economic opportunities. For policymakers and planners, these trends highlight the need for coordinated transportation infrastructure, broader distribution of job centers, and strategies that link housing development to employment growth across county lines.

Key Trends in Inbound Commuting (Top Receiving Counties)

Counties with the largest growth in inbound commuters:

• Polk: +38% (biggest growth in outbound, though not in inbound top 10)
• Osceola: +21%
• Sarasota: +17%
• Pinellas: +16%
• Orange: +13%

These increases often correlate with:

• Proximity to job centers (e.g., Osceola to Orange),
• Rapid population growth (especially in central Florida),
• Affordable housing in suburban counties attracting workers from more urban cores.

Main origin counties stayed largely consistent, reflecting stable commuting relationships — e.g., Orange and Seminole counties show mutual strong ties.

Table 5a.  Top 10 Florida Counties Attracting Most Inbound Commuters

Counties	2012-2016 Inbound Commuters	2017-2021 Inbound Commuters	Percent Change
Broward	126,274	130,018	3%
Duval	103,521	108,964	5%
Hillsborough	130,218	138,967	7%
Miami-Dade	156,884	160,533	2%
Orange	232,844	262,977	13%
Osceola	32,290	38,972	21%
Palm Beach	89,723	95,250	6%
Pinellas	69,044	80,251	16%
Sarasota	43,198	50,680	17%
Seminole	66,909	75,588	13%

Table 5b.  Top 3 Origin Counties for 10 Florida Counties Attracting Most Inbound Commuters

Counties	2012-2016 Inbound Commuters Origin Counties	2017-2021 Inbound Commuters Origin Counties
Broward	1) Miami-Dade, 2) Palm Beach, And 3) St. Lucie	1) Miami-Dade, 2) Palm Beach, And 3) St. Lucie
Duval	1) Clay, 2) St. Johns, And 3) Nassau	1) Clay, 2) St. Johns, And 3) Nassau
Hillsborough	1) Pasco, 2) Pinellas, And 3) Polk	1) Pasco, 2) Pinellas, And 3) Polk
Miami-Dade	1) Broward, 2) Palm Beach, And 3) Monroe	1) Broward, 2) Palm Beach, And 3) St. Lucie
Orange	1) Seminole, 2) Osceola, And 3) Lake	1) Seminole, 2) Osceola, And 3) Lake
Osceola	1) Orange, 2) Polk, And 3) Lake	1) Orange, 2) Polk, And 3) Lake
Palm Beach	1) Broward, 2) Martin, And 3) St. Lucie	1) Broward, 2) St. Lucie, And 3) Martin
Pinellas	1) Hillsborough, 2) Pasco, And 3) Manatee	1) Hillsborough, 2) Pasco, And 3) Manatee
Sarasota	1) Manatee, 2) Charlotte, And 3) Hillsborough	1) Manatee, 2) Charlotte, And 3) Hillsborough
Seminole	1) Orange, 2) Volusia, And 3) Lake	1) Orange, 2) Volusia, And 3) Lake

Table 5c.  Top 3 Industries for Inbound Commuters from Top 10 Florida Counties Attracting Most Inbound Commuters

Counties	2012-2016 Inbound Commuters Industries	2017-2021 Inbound Commuters Industries
Broward	1) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, 2) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services, And 3) Educational, Health And Social Services	1) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services, 2) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, And 3) Educational, Health And Social Services
Duval	1) Educational, Health And Social Services, 2) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, And 3) Arts, Entertainment, Recreation, Accommodation And Food Services	1) Educational, Health And Social Services, 2) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, And 3) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services
Hillsborough	1) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services, 2) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, And 3) Educational, Health And Social Services	1) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services, 2) Educational, Health And Social Services, And 3) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities
Miami-Dade	1) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, 2) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services, And 3) Educational, Health And Social Services	1) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services, 2) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, And 3) Educational, Health And Social Services
Orange	1) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services, 2) Educational, Health And Social Services, And 3) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities	1) Educational, Health And Social Services, 2) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services, And 3) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities
Osceola	1) Arts, Entertainment, Recreation, Accommodation And Food Services, 2) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, And 3) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services	1) Arts, Entertainment, Recreation, Accommodation And Food Services, 2) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, And 3) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services
Palm Beach	1) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services, 2) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, And 3) Educational, Health And Social Services	1) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, 2) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services, And 3) Educational, Health And Social Services
Pinellas	1) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services, 2) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, And 3) Educational, Health And Social Services	1) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services, 2) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, And 3) Educational, Health And Social Services
Sarasota	1) Educational, Health And Social Services, 2) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, And 3) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services	1) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, 2) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services, And 3) Educational, Health And Social Services
Seminole	1) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services, 2) Educational, Health And Social Services, And 3) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities	1) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services, 2) Educational, Health And Social Services, And 3) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities

Figure 4a.  Map of Inbound Commuters to Florida Counties

Key Trends in Outbound Commuting (Top Generating Counties)

Highest growth in outbound commuting:

• Polk County: +38%
• Osceola: +25%
• Hillsborough: +23%
• Orange: +21%

These counties are often:

• Residentially growing faster than their internal job base can support, leading to outward commuting for employment (especially to Orange and Hillsborough).

Notable Two-Way Commuting Flows

Counties like Broward, Orange, and Seminole feature prominently on both inbound and outbound lists, indicating complex inter-county job and housing dynamics. For example:

• Orange ↔ Seminole
• Hillsborough ↔ Pasco
• Miami-Dade ↔ Broward

 Industry Insights

Across nearly all counties, three broad industry groupings dominate:

1. Information + Finance + Professional services
2. Wholesale, Retail, Transportation, and Utilities
3. Educational, Health, and Social Services

Trends:

• Growth in high-skill, white-collar sectors (e.g., Information + Finance + Professional Services) suggests suburban counties are not just sending low-wage service workers into cities but are also home to professionals commuting to jobs in corporate, financial, and tech sectors.
• Tourism-heavy regions (like Osceola and Orange) show strong commuter ties in entertainment, food, and accommodation industries.

Table 6a.  Top 10 Florida Counties Generating Most Outbound Commuters

Counties	2012-2016 Outbound Commuters	2017-2021 Outbound Commuters	Percent Change
Broward	202,009	204,309	1%
Hillsborough	71,284	87,508	23%
Lake	53,043	60,060	13%
Miami-Dade	83,458	86,319	3%
Orange	75,314	91,039	21%
Osceola	69,079	86,029	25%
Palm Beach	64,002	67,579	6%
Pasco	86,081	98,565	15%
Polk	48,342	66,823	38%
Seminole	93,859	98,504	5%

Table 6b.  Top 3 Destination Counties for 10 Florida Counties Generating Most Outbound Commuters

Counties	2012-2029 Outbound Commuters Destination Counties	2017-2021 Outbound Commuters Destination Counties
Broward	1) Miami-Dade, 2) Palm Beach, And 3) Orange	1) Miami-Dade, 2) Palm Beach, And 3) Orange
Hillsborough	1) Pinellas, 2) Polk, And 3) Pasco	1) Pinellas, 2) Polk, And 3) Pasco
Lake	1) Orange, 2) Sumter, And 3) Seminole	1) Orange, 2) Sumter, And 3) Seminole
Miami-Dade	1) Broward, 2) Monroe, And 3) Palm Beach	1) Broward, 2) Monroe, And 3) Palm Beach
Orange	1) Seminole, 2) Osceola, And 3) Lake	1) Seminole, 2) Osceola, And 3) Lake
Osceola	1) Orange, 2) Polk, And 3) Seminole	1) Orange, 2) Polk, And 3) Seminole
Palm Beach	1) Broward, 2) Miami-Dade, And 3) Martin	1) Broward, 2) Miami-Dade, And 3) Martin
Pasco	1) Hillsborough, 2) Pinellas, And 3) Hernando	1) Hillsborough, 2) Pinellas, And 3) Hernando
Polk	1) Orange, 2) Hillsborough, And 3) Osceola	1) Orange, 2) Hillsborough, And 3) Osceola
Seminole	1) Orange, 2) Volusia, And 3) Osceola	1) Orange, 2) Volusia, And 3) Brevard

Table 6c.  Top 3 Industries for Outbound Commuters from Top 10 Florida Counties Generating Most Outbound Commuters

Counties	2012-2029 Outbound Commuters Industries	2017-2021 Outbound Commuters Industries
Broward	1) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services, 2) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, And 3) Educational, Health And Social Services	1) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services, 2) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, And 3) Educational, Health And Social Services
Hillsborough	1) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services, 2) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, And 3) Educational, Health And Social Services	1) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services, 2) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, And 3) Educational, Health And Social Services
Lake	1) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, 2) Educational, Health And Social Services, And 3) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services	1) Educational, Health And Social Services, 2) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, And 3) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services
Miami-Dade	1) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, 2) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services, And 3) Educational, Health And Social Services	1) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, 2) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services, And 3) Educational, Health And Social Services
Orange	1) Arts, Entertainment, Recreation, Accommodation And Food Services, 2) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services, And 3) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities	1) Arts, Entertainment, Recreation, Accommodation And Food Services, 2) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services, And 3) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities
Osceola	1) Arts, Entertainment, Recreation, Accommodation And Food Services, 2) Educational, Health And Social Services, And 3) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities	1) Educational, Health And Social Services, 2) Arts, Entertainment, Recreation, Accommodation And Food Services, And 3) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services
Palm Beach	1) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services, 2) Educational, Health And Social Services, And 3) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities	1) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services, 2) Educational, Health And Social Services, And 3) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities
Pasco	1) Educational, Health And Social Services, 2) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, And 3) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services	1) Educational, Health And Social Services, 2) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, And 3) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services
Polk	1) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, 2) Educational, Health And Social Services, And 3) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services	1) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, 2) Educational, Health And Social Services, And 3) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services
Seminole	1) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services, 2) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities, And 3) Educational, Health And Social Services	1) Information; + Finance, Insurance, Real Estate And Rental And Leasing; + Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, And Waste Management Services, 2) Educational, Health And Social Services, And 3) Wholesale Trade; + Retail Trade; + Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities

Figure 4b.  Map of Outbound Commuters from Florida Counties

Conclusion

In this blog, we discussed county-level commuter flows in the Tampa Bay Region and Florida.  In the Tampa Bay Region, there are 376K residents that commute to other counties in the region (22% higher than in 2016). Hillsborough, Pinellas and Sarasota ranked in the top 10 destination counties for Florida commuters. Commuter increases imply greater pressure on regional transportation systems (especially the I-4 corridor and roads linking Orange, Osceola, and Seminole). Counties with large outbound commuter growth may need more local employment options or better housing closer to job centers.

About the Data

The source of these unique and rich data is the Census Transportation Planning Products (CTPP). This is a special tabulation generated by American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).  Its latest release (covering the years 2017-2021) was highly anticipated by industry professionals. The dataset has three parts: Residences (Part 1), Workplace (Part 2), and Flows (Part 3).  In this blog, we discussed county-level data from table B302102 (Worker Flows by Industry). The industry clusters were created by AASHTO staff. Unless otherwise specified, our results are based on the 2017-2021 dataset and reflect said period.  As one reviews the tables and maps, it is important to keep in mind that the data were gathered via survey and not trip or traffic counts. Lastly, we are only considering trips from one county to another county (e.g., commuters from Pasco to Hillsborough). Commuters within the same county are not reflected in the figures above.