ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla (CBS12) — The Treasure Coast is experiencing a surge in residential development, with new homes and neighborhoods appearing across the region. Yet, despite the rapid growth in housing, many residents say the job market has not kept pace — forcing thousands to commute long distances each day for work.

While St. Lucie County offers affordable living and spacious homes, residents report that higher-paying jobs remain concentrated in areas farther south, such as Palm Beach County and Miami-Dade.

Jennifer Shiner, a Tradition resident and client relations manager at a West Palm Beach law firm, travels 55 miles each way to her office.

“I do it because I love the firm where I work,” Shiner said. “There are good jobs in St. Lucie and Martin Counties, but the higher pay and larger firms are in Palm Beach County.”

Executive coach Benjamin Salas, who resides in Port St. Lucie, frequently drives to Miami for work — a trip that can take up to three hours depending on traffic.

“My wife used to drive three days a week to Deerfield, but now she’s fully remote,” Salas said. “If you’ve got kids in school, you’ve got to factor that in.”

Amanda McFarland, also of Port St. Lucie, commutes daily to Palm Beach County and has already logged 20,000 miles on her vehicle since January.

“We have a group chat called Traffic Alert,” McFarland said. “We give each other a heads-up every day when we’re heading out to work and when we’re coming home.”

Michael Sostre travels from Port St. Lucie to the VA Hospital in Riviera Beach. He says the drive, which averages 45–50 minutes each way, is beginning to wear on him.

Carlos Nanni, a longtime Fort Pierce resident, believes the region lacks sustainable employment options.

“The median household income on the Treasure Coast is $88,000; in Palm Beach, it’s $120,000,” Nanni said. “All you have are vape shops, nail salons, and restaurants — those are entry-level positions.”

According to the Florida Department of Commerce, 63% of St. Lucie County’s workforce — approximately 75,000 people — commute out of the area for employment.

To help alleviate the burden, Palm Tran and FDOT have introduced the Port St. Lucie Express, a weekday bus service to West Palm Beach with fares starting at $3.

Salas believes the solution lies in fostering stronger local business connections.

“We have local talent and businesses right here,” he said. “If we came to the table more and figured out how to serve one another, we could keep business here in the county.”

The CBS12 News I-Team will continue this investigation Thursday, pressing local leaders on what’s holding business back — and what it will take to bring higher-paying jobs home to St. Lucie County.

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