Welcome to Market Insights, a quarterly roundup of data and analysis from the OEP’s Research & Strategy team. In this issue, we highlight the new edition of Global Orlando, our latest Orlando MSA Market Update, results from the most recent Orlando MSA Business Conditions Survey, updates on key economic indicators, and more.
Download the 2026 Global Orlando Report
This report highlights the region’s continued evolution into an internationally connected economy and outlines a targeted strategy to convert that momentum into increased foreign direct investment (FDI).
- Nearly 1 in 4 residents (23.0%) are foreign-born, the fastest-growing share among large U.S. regions.
- More than 340 foreign-owned companies from over 30 countries employ approximately 40,000 workers.
- Global trade reached $27.4 billion in 2024, up 39.0% since pre-pandemic levels.
- The region has attracted $2.7 billion in FDI over the last decade.
Q2 2026 Orlando MSA Market Update
The Q2 2026 Orlando MSA Market Update, our quarterly assessment of current economic conditions in the four-county Orlando Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), highlights a regional economy that continues to outperform many of its peers despite ongoing economic uncertainty and declining business confidence.
Highlights:
- UCF and Universal Destinations & Experiences launch joint school to train experience-driven technologists.
- Business confidence hits two-year low amid conflict in Iran.
- Unemployment rises to 4.6% in the second quarter.
- Region leads state in job growth at midyear.
- Office net absorption posts strongest year-to-date level in five years.
- Hotel demand nears pre-pandemic levels.
Q2 2026 Orlando Business Conditions Survey Results
Results from our Q2 2026 Orlando MSA Business Conditions Survey, powered by OUC – The Reliable One, suggest that while businesses across the region have become more cautious, they continue to anticipate growth despite a challenging operating environment.
Highlights:
- Confidence in both firms’ own prospects and the U.S. economy fall to two-year lows.
- Recent performance and future expectations both soften, but businesses remain optimistic about future growth amid continued uncertainty.
- Cost pressures overtake political uncertainty as the most common challenge, reflecting the inflationary impact of conflict in Iran.
- 3 in 4 businesses view Downtown Orlando as a safe and welcoming environment for conducting business.
Add Your Voice to the Q3 2026 Orlando Business Conditions Survey
Help shape the region’s economic landscape by sharing your insight on local business performance, challenges, and opportunities.
The Orlando MSA Business Conditions Survey is open to all businesses in Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Lake Counties and helps inform programs that address local needs.
This quarter’s special topic revisits workforce challenges and opportunities for local businesses.
Top 30 MSA Comparison Tool Wins National Data Analytics Award
The OEP earned national recognition from the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) and the Labor Market Information (LMI) Institute, receiving the 2026 Economic and Workforce Development Applied Research Award in the Data Analytics category for its Top 30 MSA Comparison Tool.
Market Commentaries
- The Orlando Economy at Midyear: 5 Things to Know – At the midpoint of 2026, the Orlando region’s economic story is one of resilience under pressure. National events are testing business confidence, but solid performance, strong job growth, and a wave of notable announcements confirm the region’s underlying growth engine remains intact.
- Why Orlando’s Future is International – The Orlando Economic Partnership highlights what to expect from an update on the region’s presence on the international scene.
Data Center • Demographics • Orlando MSA Market Snapshot • Orlando MSA Market Update • Orlando MSA Business Conditions Survey • Market Commentaries • Relocations & Expansions • Reports • Top 30 MSA Comparison Tool
About Research & Strategy at the Orlando Economic Partnership
The Orlando Economic Partnership’s award-winning Research & Strategy team combines economic data and local intelligence to understand the key trends impacting Orlando’s economy. We do this by engaging with local businesses and by assessing the local impact of wider economic events — publishing updates on the regional economy, highlighting competitive advantages that help drive new investment into Orlando, and addressing areas of future strategic opportunity for the region. Our work helps companies, site selectors, and civic leaders make well-informed decisions about Orlando’s growth and allows the OEP to be evidence-led and insight-driven in its pursuit of Broad-based Prosperity®.
