If you're looking for work, you may want to look in Lakeland.

A new report from the state Department of Economic Opportunity says the Lakeland-Winter Haven area leads Florida in job growth, with an increase of 4.1 percent last year.

"Things are good in Polk County, and especially Lakeland-Winter Haven,” said Terry Ottinger with the Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce.

Ottinger said construction of homes and businesses is helping to lead the way.

"We have seen a tremendous amount of construction of restaurants and hotels,” he said.

The job and economic growth has been good recently for the financial services sector, too. Allen & Company in Lakeland said it has increased its staff by about 20 percent in the past year.

"We've really been on a hiring spree,” said president Keith Albritton, who is excited to see local businesses on the rebound. "Just go look at our local hospital Lakeland Regional Health, and you will see the health care sector is booming in our area. Because guess what? We need it because of our growing population."

Lakeland Regional Health is spending millions of dollars on a new complex along Hardin Boulevard.

The positive job outlook wasn't limited to Polk County. In terms of raw jobs added, the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater area led the state with more than 40,000 jobs added.