Gov. Scott: Orlando Area Leads Florida in Job Creation

Press Release

Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area's (MSA) gained 47,200 new jobs over the year in April 2015, the highest number among all Florida metro areas for the 27th consecutive month. The Orlando MSA's unemployment rate declined by 0.8 percentage point over the year, from 5.7 percent in April 2014 to 4.9 percent in April 2015. Florida businesses have added more than 865,000 private-sector jobs since December 2010. Governor Scott made the announcement at IRadimed, a manufacturer of MRI compatible, non--magnetic IV infusion pump systems, that has created 46 jobs for families in Winter Springs, including 39 new jobs since December 2013.

Governor Scott said, "Orlando added the most jobs of all areas in the state, with 47,200 new jobs over the year. The area has seen great economic success as job creation and job demand both are on the rise. Economic growth is happening all over the state as businesses have added 865,600 new jobs since December 2010."

In April 2015, the Orlando metro area led the metro areas in job gains over the year in professional and business services with 10,500 new jobs and financial activities with 4,000 new jobs. All ten major industry sectors gained jobs over the year in April 2015. The metro area had the second-highest online job demand in Florida in April 2015 with 38,510 openings and also ranked number two in high wage, high skill science technology engineering math (STEM) demand in the state with 9,697 openings in those fields.

Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Executive Director Jesse Panuccio said, "The state as a whole continues to see positive economic news, and Orlando in particular is leading the way with robust job growth and unemployment falling below five percent for the first time since April 2008. Businesses like IRadimed are the drivers of this growth, adding good jobs in the manufacturing industry."

Florida created 25,800 private-sector jobs in April 2015, and a total of 865,600 private-sector jobs since December 2010. Florida's statewide unemployment rate for April 2015 was 5.6 percent. In April, more than 37,600 Floridians were placed in jobs by CareerSource Central Florida and the state's other 23 Regional Workforce Boards.

IRadimed is the only manufacturer of non--magnetic IV infusion pump systems that are designed to be safe for use during MRI procedures. They have been located in Central Florida since 2005 and provide their products to more than 40 countries around the world. Florida is home to more than 1,100 biotech, pharmaceutical and medical device companies, multiple world renowned biomedical research institutes, and a foundation of more than 46,000 healthcare establishments that employs 684,000 Floridians.

IRadimed President and Chief Executive Officer Roger Susi said, "I am grateful to Governor Scott for his visit highlighting the success of IRadimed. We work each day to apply our best resources to meet the needs of our customers. We are proud to be manufacturing the world's only MRI compatible IV infusion pump in Winter Springs and to be part of Florida's robust biotech and medical device industry. We are pleased to have seen strong demand for our products in recent years and we look forward to continuing our growth in Central Florida."

"IRadimed's expansion is great for Florida's life sciences sector and we're excited to see their success," said Enterprise Florida President & CEO Bill Johnson. "Florida's resources, including a strong workforce, expansive infrastructure and strategic partnerships, have created one of the top business climates in the country. April's job creation numbers are proof that Governor Scott's efforts to make Florida the best state in the nation for job creation are working, and helps us better tell the state's business story."

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