On approach to South Florida’s busy tourist season, the Broward County Aviation Department is sponsoring its fifth annual job fair to help employers fill at least 300 vacancies at multiple businesses at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
It’s been a tumultuous year at the airport for hourly wage workers who toil there.
The fair, which is scheduled for Friday Aug. 28 at the Broward County Convention Center, comes in the wake of the U.S. Government’s decision to end Temporary Protection Status for thousands of Haitians living in South Florida. It meant that a sizable population of people who worked at the airport automatically lost their jobs on July 27 at retail outlets, restaurants, and with companies that provide passenger-related services for the airport and the airlines it serves.
In May, Spirit Airlines, now formerly the airport’s busiest carrier, ceased operations after failing to reorganize its finances in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. The discount airline instantly laid off roughly 3,000 airline-related workers in South Florida — 17,000 systemwide.
Business is steady
Nonetheless, air travel levels have held relatively steady at the airport as other carriers such as JetBlue Airways, Frontier Airlines, Allegiant Air and foreign carriers stepped in to fill the void. That movement added up to a hefty demand for service workers at the airport.
For the July 4 holiday travel weekend, Fort Lauderdale again ranked among the top 10 U.S. holiday destinations, according to AAA.
Through May of this year, the latest month for which statistics are available, airport data that tracks passenger volume showed year-to-date traffic climbed slightly by 2.7% over 2025 to nearly 14.7 million customers. JetBlue took over first place among more than 20 airlines with a market share of 23.8%. Air Canada, Allegiant, American, Delta and United all showed gains versus 2025 during the first five months of 2026.
After Spirit’s collapse, JetBlue hired a number of former Spirit employees as the New York-based carrier announced that it intends to operate upwards of 150 flights daily at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International by early 2027. Along with Avianca, the growth-minded Colombian national airline, JetBlue took over departure space vacated by Spirit in Terminal 4.
Overall, the job openings are being generated by airport and airline service providers, ground transportation operators, restaurant/retail concessions, janitorial services and federal agencies. But the degree to which there is an ample supply of workers to fill the openings is hard to calculate.
According to a monthly jobs report issued Friday by the state Department of Commerce, South Florida continues to have the lowest unemployment rate in Florida, with the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metropolitan statistical area at 3.7%, down from 3.9% in June. The leisure and hospitality sector, where there are 1.34 million workers statewide, added 13,400 jobs over the past year.
Up to 20 employers are scheduled to be present at the airport job fair, according to an airport news release. The U.S. Government aside, the employers’ identities are unknown as the airport did not provide a list as of Friday.
The pay landscape varies. At the moment, the state of Florida minimum hourly wage stands at $14 an hour for non-tipped employees. The rate moves up to $15 effective Sept. 30.
A worker adjusts signage in July at the former Spirit Airlines departure terminal at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. An airport job fair offering 300 positions is set for Friday, Aug. 28 at the Broward County Convention Center. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel file)
Fair facts
Location: Broward County Convention Center, 1950 Eisenhower Blvd., Fort Lauderdale.
Date and time: Friday Aug. 28, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Participating employers: Airport/airline service providers, ground transportation operators, restaurant/retail concessions, janitorial services, and federal agencies.
Openings: Approximately 300 full or part-time.
Expected attendance: More than 1,500.
Parking: Free.
Registration: Applicants can pre-register at FLLJobFair2026.eventbrite.com
Fair agenda
9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Resume Review (Broward County Human Resources Division): A human resources professional will be available for a 15- to 20-minute personalized review, offering feedback. Bring printed copies of your resume for an evaluation. Participants will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis.
9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.: Professional Image and Etiquette (CareerSource Broward): Learn how to present your “best self.” The session covers dress, making a strong first impression, mastering email, phone, and virtual communication etiquette, while “managing your online presence to create a polished digital image.” Practical tips to boost confidence and professionalism.
10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.: Interview tips and techniques (Cara M. Roberts, MSM, talent development coach): Practical advice on how to prepare for interviews, answer questions with confidence, and make a strong impression.
Source: Broward County Aviation Department.