Employment in the services industry make up 46.8 percent of the work force while 19.9 percent of the jobs can be found in retail trade. Employers are looking at Sarasota as the ideal place to move their headquarters. Currently, AATS employs more than 850 workers. AATS and two sister companies are now expanding their facility by 155,000 square feet and will add 200 more employees. JCI Jones Chemical Inc. moved its corporate offices here in 1999, joining other headquarters such as FCCI Insurance Group and Uniroyal Technologies.
Residents here are among the best cared for in the world.
The healthcare industry is on the cutting edge of medical research. Educational opportunities in Sarasota County are extraordinary, offering many unique public and private school programs. The county provides a year-round outdoor learning center. Mote Marine Laboratory, world famous for cancer research with sharks, is a great place for science-oriented students. In another program, a glass-bottom boat named the Carefree Learner is used to teach students about marine biology.