Employment Opportunities

The Pensacola area has the benefit of a 3 county workforce to use as an asset. Escambia, Okaloosa, and Santa Rosa counties, offers a highly trained workforce of approximately 286,335 people. Civilian labor force consists of about 286,335 people, with 277,952 employed and 8,383 unemployed. Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa Counties have an average 2.175% unemployment rate as of June 17, 2022’s Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Labor Market Statistics Report.

Escambia County

Labor Force: 149,377

Employment: 145,574

Unemployment: 3,803

Unemployment Rate: 2.5%

Santa Rosa County

Labor Force: 87,397

Employment: 85,545

Unemployment: 1,852

Unemployment Rate: 2.1%

Okaloosa County

Labor Force: 102,141

Employment: 100,127

Unemployment: 2,014

Unemployment Rate: 2.0%

Walton County

Labor Force: 34,730

Employment: 34,016

Unemployment: 714

Unemployment Rate: 2.1%

The cost of living in Pensacola area is high compared to local wages, rent, cost of home purchase, gasoline and consumables.

• Major Employers

Major employers are (non-manufacturing): Health Care; Social Assistance; NAS Pensacola; ; United States Department of Homeland Security – Cyber Division (Corry Station); Public Schools; State of Florida; City of Pensacola, Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton Counties; Pensacola Port Authority.

Major employers (manufacturing) are: International Paper Company; Florida Power & Light; COX Communications; Ascend Performance Material, Navy Federal Credit Union, and Mediacom Cable .

Good Prospects

Nurses and health care occupations are in high demand.  Staffing agencies are good sources for employment (administrative to housekeeping).

Poor Prospects

Construction for residential and business accommodate approximately 9 percent of employment.  Federal occupations are not plentiful, however, employment opportunities aboard NAS Pensacola include: Civil Service; MWR, Navy Exchange; DoD Contractors; and National Flight Academy.  Personnel desiring a Civil Service position must visit www.usajobs.gov , to submit a resume and for the latest in opportunities.  You can also visit the Fleet and Family Support Center’s Family Employment Readiness Program (FERP) Specialist located in Building 625, 151 Ellyson Ave., NAS Pensacola, call 850-452-5990 ext.0; Monday - Friday (closed holidays and weekends); 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Central Standard Time, or email us at naspffsc@navy.mil . Appointments are preferred.

Family Employment Readiness Program (FERP)  is a Fleet and Family Service Center active duty family member employment assistance program. The program assists military spouses and authorized family members through individual assistance in job searches, planning for careers, resumes, interview techniques, and federal and local employment opportunities.

NAS Pensacola’s FFSC FERP offers Federal Resume Writing, LinkedIn, and interviewing. Contact the NAS Pensacola’s FERP Specialist at 850-452-5990 ext 0, for reservations and/or an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome on a space available basis.

TAP

WHAT IS TAP?

The Transition Assistance Program (TAP) prepares eligible Service Members and their families to face the many challenges of transitioning from active duty to civilian life. TAP enables Service Members to fulfill the requirements of the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) to Hire Heroes Act of 2012 and meet their Career Readiness Standards (CRS) as mandated by the TAP for Military Personnel Department of Defense Instruction 1332.35.

FIVE KEY COMPONENTS OF TAP

Mandatory Initial Counseling/Self-Assessment – Complete 365 days or more prior to release from active duty by Command Career Counselors.

- Assignment to at least one of three pathways: Tier I, Tier II or Tier III

- Note: The Tier assignment mandates the required Career Readiness Standards (CRS) a Service Member will be required to complete.

Mandatory Pre-Separation Counseling –Complete at least 365 days or more prior to release from active duty. Pre-Separation Counseling is conducted by FFSC TAP staff prior to TAP class.

Mandatory TAP Core Curriculum (3 Days)

- Day 1: DoD Transition Day, which includes Pre-separation Counseling, Managing Your Transition, Military Occupation Code Crosswalk, and Financial Planning for Transition.

- Day 2: Veterans Administration Benefits and Services Brief

- Day 3: Department of Labor (DoL) one-day Employment Fundamentals Workshop

Command Career Counselors must register Service Members for TAP Classes. &

Selection of Two-Day Career Track –

Mandatory CAPSTONE Event

- Presented by the Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) in a group setting.

- Must be completed no later than 90 days prior to separation to verify you have met CRS and received the transition services requested.

Mandatory Career Readiness Standards –

- Self-Assessment / Individual Transition Plan 

- Post-transition Financial Plan 

- eBenefits registration (DS Logon)

- Continuum of Military Service brief (Active Duty only)

- MOC Crosswalk/Gap analysis or verification of employment

- *Completed resume or provide verification of employment 

- *Comparison of Technical Institutions

- *Comparison of Colleges / Universities

*Based on selected track.

For more information regarding TAP, contact the TAP office at 850-452-7788.

MyCAA

For information on MyCAA and Military Spouse Education and Career Opportunities, visit Military OneSource.