Gov. Scott: Fort Lauderdale Gained Over 28,000 Jobs Over the Year

Press Release

Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that the Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-Deerfield Beach metro area gained 28,900 jobs over the year in March 2015. Florida businesses have added more than 841,000 private-sector jobs since December 2010. Governor Scott made the announcement at Kellstrom Defense Aerospace, Inc., a Merex Group company, that has started expanding their South Florida operations in Miramar. The expansion will create 20 new jobs, in addition to retaining 106 jobs, and make a capital investment of $5.9 million in the Miramar community.

Governor Scott said, "Today, we are proud to announce that Florida businesses have created more than 841,000 private-sector jobs since December 2010, including 28,900 jobs over the year in Fort Lauderdale. Companies like Kellstrom are crucial to creating more jobs and opportunities for Florida families, and I was proud to highlight their success today."

The Ft. Lauderdale metro area's unemployment rate declined by 1.0 percentage point over the year, from 6.1 percent in March 2014 to 5.1 percent in March 2015. The industries with the largest job gains over the year were trade, transportation, and utilities with 4,800 new jobs, professional and business services with 4,700 new jobs, and education and health services with 4,500 new jobs. In March 2015, the Ft. Lauderdale metro area added the most jobs of all the state's metro areas in information with 600 new jobs. All ten major industry sectors gained jobs over the year in March 2015. In March 2015, the Ft. Lauderdale metro area was ranked fourth among all metro areas in Florida for online job demand with 24,223 openings and also ranked fourth for high wage, high skill science technology engineering math (STEM) job openings with 5,920 job openings.

Florida created 29,400 private-sector jobs in March 2015, and a total of 841,100 private-sector jobs since December 2010. Florida's statewide unemployment rate for March 2015 was 5.7 percent. In March, more than 37,400 Floridians were placed in jobs by CareerSource Central Florida, along with the state's other 23 Regional Workforce Boards.

Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Executive Director Jesse Panuccio said, "South Florida continues to see strong job growth, continuing a positive trend from 2014. Kellstrom is part of that trend and is helping families in the region pursue the American dream. It's a great time to be living and working in Florida, especially in Broward County."

EFI president & CEO Bill Johnson said, "We are so thrilled that Florida companies have continued to create jobs, and we are proud that Kellstrom has been able to grow in South Florida. Florida is a leader in the aviation and aerospace industry, specifically in the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul sector. Under Governor Scott's leadership, we will continue to grow Florida's target sectors so companies can create more opportunities."

City of Miramar Mayor Wayne Messam said, "Congratulations to Kellstrom Defense and thank you for locating in the City of Miramar. Kellstrom is a highly valued addition to our vibrant hub of aviation companies and Kellstrom compliments Miramar's strategic initiatives for economic growth and development."

"We are proud that Kellstrom Defense Aerospace, Inc. has chosen to relocate to the City of Miramar in Broward County, Florida," said Broward County Mayor Tim Ryan. "By choosing Broward County, Kellstrom Defense Aerospace, Inc. joins some of the world's leading aviation and aerospace companies in recognizing that Broward County offers the kind of strategic location and pro-business environment where aviation and aerospace companies can thrive."

Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance President and CEO Bob Swindell added, "We are thrilled that Kellstrom Defense Aerospace is expanding in Miramar. The company's decision to expand in our region is a positive indicator that our efforts in growing Broward County's Aviation/Aerospace cluster continue to pay off."

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