The economic outlook in Northeast Florida continues to show significant improvement in 2012, according to the area’s largest chamber of commerce. JAXUSA Partnership, a division of the JAX Chamber, says there have been announcements of more than 1,400 new jobs and the retention of an additional 1,000 jobs so far this year.
The latest announcement includes Citibank adding 400 new jobs at its campus in South Jacksonville. These jobs range from back office services to underwriting. Citibank’s new jobs as well as the other company announcements come at a time when the local economy is growing and momentum is building.
Citibank’s 400 new jobs and the other jobs created and retained are helping improve the region’s unemployment rate. The April 2012 rate was 7.9 percent, which is down from 9.1 percent in January 2012 and 9.8 percent in April 2011. Announcements since January 2012 about job growth in Jacksonville include:
• National Healing Corporation – 69 new jobs, 89 retained jobs
• web.com – 200 new jobs
• BI-LO and Winn-Dixie – 200 new jobs, 891 retained jobs
• GE Capital – 220 new jobs
• Citibank – 400 new jobs
• Novitas Solutions – 250 new jobs
• 2G-Cenergy Power Systems Technologies, Inc. – 125 new jobs
• Latitude Software – 30 new jobs, 41 retained jobs
• Caterpillar Work Tools – 39 new jobs, 77 retained jobs
• Definitive Design – 30 new jobs
• KCI Aviation – 30 new jobs
• Mayo Clinic – 400 new jobs
The 2012 job growth and creation represents a capital investment of about $117 million. In 2011, JAXUSA Partnership announced 14 new projects, adding more than 2,300 jobs to the region and exceeding its capital investment goal of more than $100 million.
“The resurgence of our local economy is creating a sense of pride and excitement in the business community, and helping to fuel additional job growth,” said Jerry Mallot, president of JAXUSA Partnership. “Our continued focus is to accelerate job growth and economic development for the benefit of the community.”