Puerto Ricans could ease job market

With their homes or workplaces damaged or even destroyed by the powerful Hurricane Maria, some Puerto Ricans have taken refuge in South Florida.

At this point, many are staying with family or friends in the region. But as efforts to restore power, clean the water and reconstruct the island are taking longer than expected, evacuees could decide to make South Florida their permanent home, some experts say.

Local employers may benefit from this influx of Puerto Ricans who need jobs, as many of them are struggling to find workers in a tight labor market, a new Cushman & Wakefield report says.

Florida officials are estimating up to 250,000 people from Puerto Rico will relocate to the state after Maria, a Category 5 hurricane, devastated the U.S. commonwealth. That number could grow by several hundred thousand more over the next year, said Chris Owens, Florida Research Manager for Cushman & Wakefield and author of the report, “Puerto Rican Diaspora,” which examines Puerto Rican migration to Florida and its economic effects on the state.

Florida’s low unemployment — under 4 percent in South and Central Florida, where many Puerto Ricans are heading — means those individuals with some skills should easily find work, especially if they’re bilingual, Owens said. Chris Owens, Cushman & Wakefield