It’s a big week for job-hunting in Jacksonville.
Two new employers are hiring at least 1,750 positions while the Jacksonville Jaguars and stadium partners hosted a job fair Tuesday for 1,000 part-time workers for the 2017 home games and other events.
“It means a lot more people are going to be getting back into the job market,” said Candace Moody, vice president of CareerSource Northeast Florida.
Some people who have been out of work haven’t been looking for jobs, which means they are not counted in the unemployment rate.
Now they are coming back, Moody said.
Also, the jobs are attractive to college and high school graduates entering the job market, as well as students seeking part-time work.
“It will draw people off of the job sidelines,” she said. “We’ve got a lot of opportunity.”
The jobs come as the area’s unemployment rate remains at a 10-year low, about 4 percent.
But they also are offered as the size of the labor force increases.
It surged by nearly 8,000 people in May as new college and high school graduates begin looking for jobs.
The two new companies have long been anticipated and are offering full- and part-time jobs, with many of those offering benefits.
Amazon.com announced its first Jacksonville fulfillment center in Northwest Jacksonville a year ago and this week launched the first of six job fairs to hire 1,500 full-time employees,
Full-time Amazon workers earn benefits starting their first day at work.
Ikea, which announced plans for its 250-job Jacksonville store Oct. 6, followed up on Tuesday by confirming it is taking applications for more than 200 full- and part-time jobs. It already has hired about 35 managers.
Both Amazon and Ikea will open this fall, although neither announced a date.
Online jobs posted for Amazon indicate an hourly wage of $12 to $16, although 500 positions will make an annual average of $50,000, based on city legislation for incentives.
Ikea does not disclose its pay range.
Online job postings for the company show an hourly range of $10.76 to $23.30, but they included cities other than just Jacksonville.
Amazon is hosting hiring fairs — the next are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today and Friday at the Legends Center at 5130 Soutel Drive.
Moody said response to the first job fair Monday was so strong that the event was extended to 7 p.m. Candidates left waiting can start today at the front of the line.
Amazon said Tuesday it made more than 100 on-the-spot job offers to applicants at the job fair.
Candidates also can apply online at amazondelivers.jobs. Amazon will arrange private hiring events for those it wants to interview.
Ikea is not planning hiring fairs. Candidates can apply online at SeeACareerWithUs.com and find more company information at IKEA-USA.com.
Amazon should start operations about September based on the company’s practice of hiring a couple of months before opening.
Ikea said that postings, interviews, hiring and job starts are staggered based on when each function is needed.
Amazon previously made much of its job information public. Ikea now is doing the same.
Like Amazon, Ikea said candidates can expect a background check and a drug test.
Ikea said jobs to be filled include home furnishings sales, interior design/visual merchandising, customer service, safety and security, cashiers, facility management, warehouse receiving, stock replenishment and child play-area supervision.
Ikea Jacksonville also will offer about 50 food-service jobs in its restaurant, Swedish Food Market, Exit Bistro and co-worker cafeteria.
Ikea said in a news release the recruitment effort is rolling, with the jobs posted online changing periodically based on timing needs during the store’s construction completion.
The 290,000-square-foot store will open at northwest Interstate 295 and Gate Parkway and include 950 parking spaces. It will include one of Florida’s largest retail solar rooftops.
Ikea said it offers benefits that include full medical and dental insurance to employees working 20 hours or more per week, with eligibility for domestic partners and children.
Other benefits include vacation, paid maternity/paternity leave and paid time off for child adoption, tuition assistance, a bonus program, matching 401(k), a pension plan, professional development, training and mentoring programs, free uniforms and a discount for shopping at Ikea.
Ikea recently announced an expanded policy for employees to receive up to four months of paid parental leave.
The store will feature nearly 10,000 exclusively designed items, 50 room settings, three model-home interiors, a supervised children’s play area, and a 325-seat restaurant serving Swedish specialties and American dishes.
Leontyne Green Sykes is the store manager.
Ikea operates more than 390 stores in 48 countries, including 44 in the U.S.
Meanwhile the Jaguars and five other organizations that operate at EverBank Field are hiring for positions that include food service, bartenders, cooks, prep staff, servers, bar back, dishwashers, cashiers, merchandise supervisors, sales associates, security, ushers, ticket takers, escalator operators, housekeeping and parking attendants.