Jobs & Economy in Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach's economy runs on two real, distinct anchors beyond tourism: Daytona International Speedway, which a 2022 Florida State University study estimated supports over 11,000 jobs and roughly $806M in annual regional economic output, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, whose Daytona Beach campus a 2020 independent economic-impact study found supports about 13,200 jobs and generates over $1.6B in total economic impact within Volusia County. Volusia County's unemployment rate ran 5.8% in January 2026, about 0.9 points above the statewide rate of 4.9%.
Exploring the idea of moving?
We can connect you with a local real estate professional who knows the area -- no pressure, just a starting point.
Learn moreUnemployment: County Figure, Above the State Rate
Volusia County's unemployment rate was 5.8% in January 2026, running about 0.9 percentage points above Florida's statewide rate of 4.9% at the same point, per state labor-market data. Nonagricultural employment in the broader Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach metropolitan statistical area (MSA) was 229,200 in January 2026, up 1,400 jobs year-over-year -- modest growth, not a boom, and no unemployment figure specific to the city of Daytona Beach alone (as distinct from the county or MSA) was confirmed this research pass.
Daytona International Speedway: A Year-Round Anchor
Daytona International Speedway hosts the Daytona 500, NASCAR's most-attended and most-watched race, and functions as a genuine year-round economic anchor rather than a one-weekend event. A 2022 Florida State University Center for Economic Forecasting and Analyses study estimated the Speedway supports over 11,000 jobs and roughly $806M in annual economic output for the region -- figures carried consistently from the base city record. This figure predates 2026 by several years and should be treated as an order-of-magnitude reference rather than a current-year statistic.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: A Second Major Anchor
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's Daytona Beach campus is a second, distinct economic and educational anchor. A 2020 independent economic-impact study by the Washington Economics Group found the university supports about 13,200 jobs and generates just over $1.6B in total economic impact within Volusia County specifically, as part of a broader Florida-and-Arizona economic impact exceeding $2.3B (up 44% from 2016) and nearly 18,000 jobs supported across both states. The report is now several years old (2020) and should likewise be treated as a directional, not current-year, figure. Embry-Riddle's Research Park has separately generated more than $90M in economic impact in Florida and created roughly 500 jobs since opening in 2017.
Mixed Sector Growth Within the Metro
Within the Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach MSA, Education and Health Services (+4.3%), Other Services (+2.4%), and Leisure and Hospitality (+0.9%) grew faster than the statewide average as of January 2026, while Professional and Business Services (-500 jobs), Mining/Logging/Construction (-300), Manufacturing (-100), Trade/Transportation/Utilities (-100), and Information (-100) lost jobs year-over-year, per state labor-market data. This is a genuinely mixed picture -- growth in healthcare and services, softness in construction and business services -- rather than uniform expansion or contraction.
A Genuinely Dual-Anchor Economy
The combination of a motorsports/tourism anchor (the Speedway) and a distinct aerospace-education anchor (Embry-Riddle) gives Daytona Beach a more diversified economic base than a purely seasonal beach-tourism city, even though the county unemployment rate running above the state average is a real, disclosed softness worth factoring into any relocation decision tied to local job-seeking rather than a portable income source.
Key takeaways
- Volusia County unemployment ran 5.8% in January 2026, about 0.9 points above Florida's statewide 4.9% rate -- a real, disclosed softness, not a Daytona-Beach-city-specific figure.
- Daytona International Speedway supports over 11,000 jobs and roughly $806M in annual regional economic output, per a 2022 FSU study -- a year-round anchor, not a one-weekend event.
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's Daytona Beach campus supports about 13,200 jobs and over $1.6B in economic impact within Volusia County, per a 2020 Washington Economics Group study (part of a $2.3B Florida+Arizona total) -- the figure is several years old and directional.
- Within the metro area, Education/Health Services, Other Services, and Leisure/Hospitality grew faster than the state average in early 2026, while Professional/Business Services, Construction, Manufacturing, and Trade/Transportation/Utilities lost jobs.
- The Speedway (motorsports/tourism) and Embry-Riddle (aerospace/education) together give Daytona Beach a more diversified economic base than a purely tourism-driven beach city.
Want to know what your budget actually buys here?
Tell us a bit about what you're looking for and we'll connect you with someone local who can walk you through real numbers.
Get local guidanceRead the full Daytona Beach overview for the complete picture -- housing, taxes, climate, and who this place genuinely fits.
Planning a move?
Tell us what you're looking for and we'll connect you with a local expert who can help you make it happen.
Talk to a local expert