Today, there are about 407,000 construction jobs in Florida, about 40 percent fewer than three years ago. The fallout has been less severe among real estate agents and brokers: Only about 8 percent of their jobs have disappeared, falling to about 124,000 in Florida, state data show. However, agents suggest many of the people remaining in real estate are hanging on at a fraction of their former pay.

State and federal jobs data don't isolate many growth-related jobs, such as mortgage brokers, title insurance agents and building materials manufacturers, so the number of displaced workers is probably thousands higher.

Bud Krueger is a casualty.

In 2006, Krueger was a top building executive for DSW in Columbus,Ohio, then a fast-growing chain of shoe stores. He lived at 30,000  feet, flying to DSW's new stores across the country four days a week.

It was a good job with a good salary of about $95,000. He and his wife, Carol, had family and longtime roots in the Midwest.

Then, a new opportunity emerged in Florida that offered Krueger, 59,a chance to oversee shopping centers, not just individual shoe stores.

A project management firm, 3rd Works, was swimming in construction projects in Florida. Big shopping centers, including Cypress Creek Town Center in Pasco County and South shore Commons in Apollo Beach, were planned, and 3rd Works had been hired to help shepherd them.

"I remember asking him, 'Are you sure this is what you want to do?'" Carol Krueger said.

"My gut told me this was the wrong move," Bud said. "But I'd already made a commitment to 3rd Works and they had enough work booked up that I thought I'd be set for 10 years."

Fresh start in Florida

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