Gov. Scott: Jacksonville Added More Than 16,000 Jobs Over the Year in April 2015

Press Release

Today, Governor Rick Scott announced the Jacksonville Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) gained 16,500 new jobs over the year in April 2015. The Jacksonville MSA's unemployment rate declined by 0.8 percentage point over the year, from 5.9 percent in April 2014 to 5.1 percent in April 2015. Florida businesses have added more than 865,000 private-sector jobs since December 2010.

Governor Scott said, "Our focus on creating an environment where businesses can create jobs is clearly working as the Jacksonville metro area gained 16,500 new jobs last month and statewide, 865,600 private sector jobs have been created since December 2010. We are committed to continuing this momentum so families can find every opportunity to live the American Dream in Florida."

The industries with the largest job gains over the year were trade, transportation, and utilities with 5,900 new jobs, leisure and hospitality with 4,600 new jobs, and education and health services with 3,200 new jobs. In April 2015, the Jacksonville MSA had 20,663 online job openings and had 4,712 online openings for high wage, high skill science technology engineering math (STEM) jobs.

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 Northeast Florida and the state's other 23 Regional Workforce Boards.

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